Lower West Side Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Chicago's Halloween night parade featuring a costume contest with cash prizes.

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (West Chicago Halloween Festivities)

West Chicago Halloween Festivities

West Chicago

Family trick-or-treating and fall activities in downtown West Chicago.

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago 5 mi $$

Family Halloween fun featuring animal encounters, owl pellet dissection, and crafts.

Illustration of a child in a witch costume holding a pumpkin bucket on a leafy sidewalk lined with glowing houses at dusk (Spooktacular Trick or Treat)

Spooktacular Trick or Treat

Sun, Oct 25

Berwyn 7 mi

Family Halloween trick-or-treating celebration at Proksa Park

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Chicago

Features downtown Chicago's only corn maze and over 10,000 pumpkins.

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

Chicago 5 mi Free

Free harvest festival featuring animal enrichment, rides, and pumpkin carving.

Oaktoberfest

Sep 25 – Sep 26

Oak Park 7 mi Free

Free festival featuring live music, local food, and craft beer.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (BooPalooza and BarkPalooza)

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Sat, Oct 17

Community festival featuring all-ages and dog costume parades, music, and games.

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Chicago

Neighborhood trick-or-treating at local businesses across Lincoln Park.

Illustration of two costumed figures in a festive autumn street at dusk with pumpkins, string lights and a glowing bonfire (Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party)

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Sun, Oct 18

Chicago 7 mi

Family-oriented street celebration with live music, photo ops, and candy.

Illustration of costumed children and a cat walking a leafy sidewalk past glowing jack-o'-lanterns and cozy houses at dusk (Northcenter Halloween Trick-or-Treat)

Northcenter Halloween Trick-or-Treat

Chicago 7 mi

Trick-or-treat across the town square and neighborhood storefronts.

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 23 mi $

Thousands of pumpkins line the zoo lawn alongside daily scavenger hunts.

Illustration of a clay altar with candles and marigolds, skull decorations and small dancing figures under paper banners (Slightly Spooky Saturday)

Slightly Spooky Saturday

Trick-or-treating, live entertainment, and free workshops at Navy Pier.

Hamilton Boo Bash

Chicago 6 mi

Features a costume parade, carnival games, and a student-hosted haunted house.

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 7 mi Free

Carnival rides, live bats and skunks, and pumpkin carving demonstrations.

Monster Madness

Sat, Oct 17

Lisle 22 mi $$

Festive autumn fun fair for children with games, inflatables, and hayrides.

Harvest Fest

Sat, Oct 3

Medinah 22 mi Free

Annual community festival featuring live music, hayrides, games, and food trucks.

Hull-o-ween Open House

Folklore storytelling, 1920s silent films, and custom spooky poetry on-site.

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Chicago $

Riverwalk festival featuring boat hayrides on the Chicago River and pumpkin patch.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (The Great Pumpkin Party)

The Great Pumpkin Party

Sat, Oct 3

Orland Park 20 mi

Family fall festival with pony rides, hayrides, and costume contests.

Illustration of costumed clay children and a witch playing among pumpkins, hay bales and tents on an autumn lawn (10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll)

10/16: Spooktacular Halloween Stroll

Fri, Oct 16

Wheaton 23 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Monster Fun Halloween Wristband)

Monster Fun Halloween Wristband

Lombard 18 mi $$

Unlimited indoor attractions and free parkwide trick-or-treating in costume.

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 24 mi

A 1.1-mile trick-or-treat trail featuring games, candy, and a bouncy house.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 8 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Nightmare on Grounds St. Market)

Nightmare on Grounds St. Market

Sat, Oct 17

Chicago Halloween and horror market featuring local vendors, tattoos, and oddities.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles and scattered seeds on a wooden table under string lights at dusk (Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company)

Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company

Thu, Oct 29

Chicago $$$

Includes a pumpkin, carving supplies, paint, and your first drink.

Illustration of cars with open trunks decorated with pumpkins and balloons, with a child figure beside an orange car at dusk (This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest)

This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest

Chicago 6 mi Free

Community trunk or treat gathering featuring candy and a costume contest.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats)

Hands-On Family Spooky Snacks and Sweet Treats

Chicago 8 mi $$$

Kids and adults cook festive savory bites and sweet treats together.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Spooktacular Fun Night)

Spooktacular Fun Night

Fri, Oct 30

Westmont 16 mi Free

Free family games, crafts, and silly fun with Wacky Drac.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Autumn Equinox Celebration)

Autumn Equinox Celebration

Tue, Sep 22

Wheaton 23 mi Free

Outdoor nature play, crafts, and family activities celebrating fall's arrival.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 23 mi $

A low-sensory Halloween event designed for neurodiverse children and families.

Illustration of small costumed children and a witch on a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales and orange trees (Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services)

Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services

Mon, Oct 19

Gary 24 mi

Seasonal story hour hosted at the library's Children's Services department.

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 26 mi $

Not-so-scary Halloween fun with Disney tribute concerts and historic trick-or-treating.

Family Fall Fest 2026

Mon, Oct 12

Lockport 28 mi $

Fall festival featuring hayrides, a petting zoo, inflatables, and Scarecrow Lane.

Pumpkin Walk

Sat, Oct 3

Buffalo Grove 27 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Oct 5 – Oct 18

Lockport 28 mi

Create a scarecrow display or vote along Dellwood Park's path.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch)

Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch

Trick-or-treating for children in Pre-K through eighth grade.

Pumpkin Fun @ Woodson

Thu, Oct 22

Bring your own pumpkin to decorate using library-supplied materials.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson)

Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson

Mon, Oct 26

Halloween story session and craft activity held at the library branch.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch)

Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch

Tue, Oct 20

Children's scarecrow craft session at the Kennedy Branch library.

Illustration of costumed children and two witches on a lawn with pumpkins, a small tent and orange autumn trees (Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!)

Lincoln Park Conservancy Presents: The Boo-tanical Bash!

Chicago 5 mi $$

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (28th Annual Spooktacular)

28th Annual Spooktacular

DeKalb 7 mi Free

Community-wide trick-or-treating and free movie screening

Fright at Night

Oak Park 6 mi $

Boo-tanical Conservatory Halloween transformation

Illustration of a fall festival street with big pumpkins in front, striped booths, and small figures under orange trees (Fall Fest at Athletic Field)

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Chicago 7 mi Free

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Trick-or-Treat at 900

Chicago $

Indoor trick-or-treating across seven levels of shops

Illustration of an older person handing out candy to costumed children on a glowing neighborhood porch at dusk (Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat)

Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat

Chicago 6 mi Free

Visitors can trick-or-treat across more than twenty-five neighborhood locations in Northalsted.

Glow Stick Dance Party at Bauler