Brave the night terrors that await in Rockford this Halloween, guided by our in-depth compilation of the most hair-raising events and supernatural experiences. Discover spooky spots, no matter your ghostly status.
Popular Events: Experience the fear and history entwined at the Disturbia Haunted House, where fear lurks around every corner. For family-friendly fun, Trick or Treat at Midway Village Museum offers a delightful evening filled with candy and costumes in a charming, historic setting. And the All Hallows' Eve at Midway Village Museum is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring themed activities and eerie exhibits that celebrate the spirit of the season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Top Halloween Events In and Around Rockford
- Trick or Treat at Midway Village Museum
- All Hallows' Eve at Midway Village Museum
- Disturbia Haunted House (Downers Grove)
- Hayride of Horror (Lockport)
- Halloween on the Prairie at Byron Forest Preserve (Byron)
- Truck or Treat at Porter Park (Roscoe)
- Spooktacular - Rockford Symphony Orchestra
- Spook the Dells at Severson Dells Nature Center
- Spooktacular - Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Midnight Terror Haunted House (Oak Lawn)
See these and even more events listed below!
Rockford Area Haunted Experiences
Disturbia Haunted House
What to Expect:
An immersive haunted house experience with state-of-the-art special effects and expertly trained actors.
Description:
Disturbia Haunted House is a premier destination for those seeking an adrenaline-pumping scare near Chicago, IL. Located in Downers Grove, IL, this haunted house attraction features expertly designed rooms and scenarios, state-of-the-art special effects, and stunning set designs. Each year, it brings fresh themes and terrifying experiences that will leave you breathless.
Where: Downers Grove | More Info: Disturbia Haunted House
Hayride of Horror
What to Expect:
A guided haunted hayride through eerie woods with multiple terrifying environments.
Description:
Experience the Hayride of Horror on October 5, 2024, at Lockport Township Park District. This spooky event takes place from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, offering a thrilling ride through haunted woods with a narrator guiding the way. The journey continues on foot into various terrifying environments, including a post-apocalyptic compound and a bayou-like setting. Prepare for a night filled with frights and surprises.
Where: Lockport | More Info: Hayride of Horror
Midnight Terror Haunted House
What to Expect:
An immersive, actor-driven haunted house experience with multiple scare zones and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Midnight Terror Haunted House is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a mix of "Old School" scares and cutting-edge technology. The event features multiple attractions and scare zones, including Black Oak Grove and the Factory of Malum. Visitors can also enjoy family-friendly activities like Lights On Trick or Treat and experience the chaos of Clown Takeover. The haunted house is located in Oak Lawn, IL, and offers a variety of immersive experiences that will haunt your Halloween season.
Where: Oak Lawn | More Info: Midnight Terror Haunted House
Terror Roulette
What to Expect:
An immersive, interactive horror experience where each guest's journey is determined by a randomly assigned playing card.
Description:
Terror Roulette is an immersive, interactive haunted house experience in South Barrington, Illinois. Thrill-seekers are thrust into a twisted game of fear, where each card dealt by The Dealer determines their path through 22 rooms filled with grotesque terrors and maniacal slayers. This unpredictable adventure blends adrenaline, suspense, and vile acts, creating an unparalleled thrill for horror enthusiasts.
Where: South Barrington | More Info: Terror Roulette
Haunted Rockford Ghost Tours
What to Expect:
Explore the eerie side of Rockford with local historians and spirit mediums at various haunted locations.
Description:
Haunted Rockford Ghost Tours offers a variety of paranormal experiences throughout the year, including haunted tours, paranormal investigations, and live gallery readings. Local historian and author Kathi Kresol shares her extensive research on ghost stories, true crimes, and local legends, while spirit medium Sara Bowker provides insights into any spirits present. These events take place at various historical locations in and around Rockford, Illinois, making them a unique blend of history and the paranormal.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Haunted Rockford Ghost Tours
Killdare Haunted City
What to Expect:
A haunted city setting with extended hours on weekends.
Description:
Killdare Haunted City is a thrilling haunted attraction located at Bridgeview Park District, offering a spooky experience with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 7PM to 11PM and on Sundays from 7PM to 10PM for Halloween. The event features a haunted city setting with various scares and attractions.
Where: Bridgeview | More Info: Killdare Haunted City
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Rockford
All Hallows' Eve at Midway Village Museum
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating in a historic Victorian Village setting.
Description:
All Hallows' Eve at Midway Village Museum is a family-friendly Halloween event where kids and adults can trick-or-treat in the picturesque Victorian Village. The event features over 20 decorated historic buildings, friendly costumed volunteers, and various games and activities for children of all ages. This festive celebration offers a unique and immersive experience in a historic setting.
Where: Rockford | More Info: All Hallows' Eve at Midway Village Museum
Trick or Treat at Midway Village Museum
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating in a historic village setting with costumed volunteers.
Description:
Trick or Treat at Midway Village Museum is a family-friendly Halloween event where kids and adults can come in costume to trick-or-treat at over 20 decorated, historic buildings in the picturesque Victorian Village. Enjoy a variety of games and activities for children of all ages.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Trick or Treat at Midway Village Museum
Halloween on the Prairie at Byron Forest Preserve
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with various activities and a free lunch.
Description:
Halloween on the Prairie at Byron Forest Preserve is a family-friendly event featuring games, hayrides, crafts, Raptor Rehab owl and hawk demonstrations, and a bounce house. The event includes a costume parade and offers free lunch with hot dogs, chips, and bottled water. This festive celebration takes place at the Jarrett Prairie Preserve.
Where: Byron | More Info: Halloween on the Prairie at Byron Forest Preserve
Spook the Dells at Severson Dells Nature Center
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with guided walks and seasonal festivities in a natural setting.
Description:
Spook the Dells at Severson Dells Nature Center is a family-friendly Halloween event featuring a variety of activities and themes designed to delight visitors of all ages. The event includes guided walks, travelogues, and other seasonal festivities that celebrate the spooky season in a natural setting.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Spook the Dells at Severson Dells Nature Center
Spooktacular - Rockford Symphony Orchestra
What to Expect:
A Halloween-themed symphony concert with a variety of spooky and classic orchestral pieces.
Description:
Join the Rockford Symphony Orchestra for a spine-tingling Halloween celebration with Spooktacular. This event features a program of spooky symphonic sounds, including hauntingly beautiful classics and ghostly melodies that create a chilling background for the movies. Wear your costumes and enjoy a fun-filled concert for all ages.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Spooktacular - Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Truck or Treat at Porter Park
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween event with a truck theme featuring traditional trunk or treat activities and touch-a-truck experiences with public works, local police, and fire departments.
Description:
Truck or Treat at Porter Park is a family-friendly Halloween event featuring a truck theme. The event includes traditional trunk or treat activities, touch-a-truck experiences with public works, local police, and fire departments, as well as food trucks for attendees. This festive event provides a fun and safe environment for children to enjoy Halloween festivities.
Where: Roscoe | More Info: Truck or Treat at Porter Park
Creepy Campfire @ Syc. Park District
What to Expect:
A unique blend of ghost stories, songs, and s'mores in a festive outdoor setting.
Description:
Join the Sycamore Library for their 4th Annual Creepy Campfire event at Sycamore Park District. Enjoy a night of ghost stories, songs, and s'mores in a fun and spooky atmosphere. Adults can participate with Library staff at the Good Tymes Shelter, bringing their own camping chairs, blankets, and thermoses.
Where: Sycamore | More Info: Creepy Campfire @ Syc. Park District
Kids Halloween Bash
What to Expect:
A not-so-scary haunted house experience suitable for kids.
Description:
The Kids Halloween Bash at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA is a fun-filled event on Friday, October 18th, from 4-7pm. It features spooky games, a bounce house, a haunted house, and raffles with candy prizes. Children under two are free, and entry times will be staggered for safety and traffic flow.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Kids Halloween Bash
Spooktacular - Anderson Japanese Gardens
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating and Halloween craft stations in a beautiful Japanese garden setting.
Description:
Spooktacular at Anderson Japanese Gardens is a fun, family-friendly Halloween event where children are invited to come dressed in costume and explore the garden in a spooky way. Activities include trick-or-treating throughout the gardens, Halloween craft stations, a spooky graveyard perfect for photos, Hoo Haven Learning Centers located throughout the garden, and Rockford Public Library Mobile Library reading spooky stories.
Where: Rockford | More Info: Spooktacular - Anderson Japanese Gardens
Toddler Halloween Trick-or-Treat Parade
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween parade with trick-or-treat stops for young children.
Description:
The Toddler Halloween Trick-or-Treat Parade is a fun and festive event designed for young children. It features a Halloween parade through the Children's Department with several trick-or-treat stops. The event encourages children to come in costume and join the parade. No registration is required, making it an inclusive and enjoyable experience for families.
Where: DeKalb | More Info: Toddler Halloween Trick-or-Treat Parade
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Rockford
Halloween - Scary Sugar Cookie Decorating Class
What to Expect:
A beginner-friendly cookie decorating class where participants can create their own spooky sugar cookies using pre-baked cookies and various decorating tools.
Description:
In this 2-hour Halloween - Scary Sugar Cookie Decorating Class, participants will learn the basics of sugar cookies and practice piping with Royal Icing. The class is beginner-friendly and covers general concepts around dough and icing. Each participant will receive pre-baked cookies, icing, sprinkles, and all necessary tools to decorate their own set of cookies. The event is hosted by Aunt Bs Baking at Bennys Corner Market in Flagg Township, IL.