Oak Park Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Forest Park Free

Casual community bike tour tracking down scarecrows across Forest Park.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin float rolling down a town street past costumed figures, with orange balloons and confetti (Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade)

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

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

Boo! at the Zoo

Oct 3 – Oct 25

Brookfield

Features trick-or-treating, costume parades, inflatables, and themed treats.

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

Berwyn

Family Halloween trick-or-treating celebration at Proksa Park

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 7 mi

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

BOO-seum Bash

Chicago 8 mi $$

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

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

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

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Chicago 8 mi $

Autumn celebration with fresh Midwest apples, cider, live music, and family entertainment.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat)

Lincoln Scared & Ravenswoooood Trick-or-Treat

Business district trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating for costumed kids.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest)

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

Chicago 8 mi Free

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

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (BooPalooza and BarkPalooza)

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Chicago 6 mi Free

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

Illustration of a small Ferris wheel, striped tents and a decorated booth with pumpkins on a grassy fairground in autumn (Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party)

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Sun, Oct 18

Chicago

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

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

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

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

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 17 mi $

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

Hamilton Boo Bash

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

Family Fall Fest

Elmhurst 8 mi Free

Safety Town trick-or-treating, inflatable corn maze, and carnival games.

Harvest Fest

Medinah 15 mi Free

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

Monster Madness

Lisle 17 mi $$

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

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 21 mi $

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

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Hull-o-ween Open House)

Hull-o-ween Open House

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

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 17 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Orland Park 20 mi

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

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 22 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin on a stand in a grassy field near striped booths with small figures and pumpkins (Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party)

Haunt on Hirsch Street – Family Block Party

Fri, Oct 16

Melrose Park Free

Free family block party with Halloween displays and train rides

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 12 mi $$

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 18 mi

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

Norwood Park Fall Fest

Free autumn festival featuring games, a candy hunt, and a pumpkin patch.

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

Illustration of small purple clay characters carving glowing jack-o'-lanterns on a wooden table with candles and seeds (Family Pumpkin Carving Party)

Family Pumpkin Carving Party

Fri, Oct 23

Melrose Park $

You carve the pumpkin and park staff handles the cleanup.

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

Chicago 5 mi Free

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 5 mi $$$

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

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

Features trunk-or-treating, a chili cook-off, and carnival games.

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 12 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 17 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Spice Pilates

Fri, Oct 9

Chicago 6 mi $$

Mat Pilates session followed by a seasonal pumpkin drink.

Pumpkin Painting

Summit 7 mi $

Hands-on pumpkin decorating session designed for kids and families.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 17 mi $

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

Family Fall Fest 2026

Mon, Oct 12

Lockport 26 mi $

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 26 mi Free

Canine costume contest featuring treats, prizes, and owner-pet coordination.

Scarecrow Decorating Contest

Oct 5 – Oct 18

Lockport 26 mi

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

Fright at Night

Oak Park $

Boo-tanical Conservatory Halloween transformation

28th Annual Spooktacular

DeKalb Free

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

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 8 mi $$

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Chicago 5 mi Free

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Boo Bash at Gladstone