Venture into the twilight zone of Waukegan this Halloween, equipped with our meticulously compiled guide to the most hair-raising attractions and paranormal experiences. Our guide illuminates Waukegan for seasoned and fresh fears alike.
Popular events this Halloween season include the HellsGate Haunted House, where intense themed rooms and live actors create a chilling atmosphere designed to thrill. Explore the Waukegan Trick or Treat, featuring safe and family-friendly festivities that encourage community engagement. And don't forget the Waukegan Halloween Trick or Treat Trail, a delightful stroll filled with treats and spooky sights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Waukegan
- Waukegan Trick or Treat
- HellsGate Haunted House (Waukegan, IL)
- Waukegan Halloween Trick or Treat Trail
- Dungeon of Doom (Zion, IL)
- The House of Macabre (Lake Villa, IL)
- Fright Fest Haunted House (Libertyville, IL)
- Mclellan Manor Haunted House (Yorkville, IL)
- Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Barn (West Chicago, IL)
- Lost Souls Haunted Bus Tour (Chicago, IL)
- Spirited Escapes / Haunted Mansion Escape Room (Joliet, IL)
See these and even more events listed below!
Waukegan Area Haunted Experiences
HellsGate Haunted House
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween experience featuring a multi-level mansion with secret passages and undead abominations.
Description:
HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport, IL, is an immersive and thrilling experience hidden deep in the woods. This multi-level mansion features secret passages, giant slides, ghastly secrets, and undead abominations. The event combines the award-winning casts and crews of HellsGate and Statesville Prison for an unforgettable Halloween season. Visitors must navigate through zombie-infested woods and across the Lost Souls Cemetery to find the haunted house.
Where: Waukegan, IL | More Info: HellsGate Haunted House
Dungeon of Doom
What to Expect:
The Dungeon of Doom features a 60-minute indoor haunted house experience with intricately designed sections and a dedicated "Killer Crew" aiming to terrify visitors.
Description:
The Dungeon of Doom is Chicago's best and longest-running haunted attraction, operating every Halloween season since 1997. This 42,000 square-foot warehouse offers a 60-minute indoor haunted house experience filled with lurking ghouls, deranged clowns, and shambling undead. Each section is carefully designed to create a chilling and mesmerizing performance by committed actors, making it a must-visit for horror fans.
Where: Zion, IL | More Info: Dungeon of Doom
The House of Macabre
What to Expect:
A nightmare come to life with innovative scares and immersive atmosphere.
Description:
The House of Macabre is a haunted house located in Aurora, just outside Chicago, IL. It features terrifying themes and innovative scares, making it one of the scariest haunted houses in America. Visitors can expect a nightmare come to life with its unique special effects and immersive atmosphere.
Where: Lake Villa, IL | More Info: The House of Macabre
Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Barn
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted experiences with live actors, animatronics, and pyrotechnics.
Description:
Sonny Acres Farm offers a thrilling Halloween experience with two haunted attractions: the Wicked Hallows Haunted Hayride and the Curse of the Scarecrow Haunted Barn. These nighttime events feature creepy live-action characters, dynamic scenery, animatronics, and pyrotechnics, creating an immersive and terrifying experience for all ages.
Where: West Chicago, IL | More Info: Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Barn
Mclellan Manor Haunted House
What to Expect:
The event's unique feature is its free, garage-based setup with live actors and real scares.
Description:
Mclellan Manor Haunted House is a free, amateur, garage-based haunted house located in Yorkville, Illinois. It features live actors and real scares with large, hand-crafted props. This event is a unique and thrilling experience for those looking to enjoy Halloween without breaking the bank.
Where: Yorkville, IL | More Info: Mclellan Manor Haunted House
Fright Fest Haunted House
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween experience with haunted houses and scare zones.
Description:
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America transforms the park into a thrilling and spooky experience. The event features haunted houses, scare zones, spine-chilling shows, and your favorite rides. It's a perfect blend of thrills and frights that will keep you entertained throughout the night.
Where: Libertyville, IL | More Info: Fright Fest Haunted House
Spirited Escapes / Haunted Mansion Escape Room
What to Expect:
Engage in a highly immersive and physically challenging escape room experience with puzzles ranging from electronic locks to moving walls.
Description:
Experience the thrilling Haunted Mansion Escape Room at Spirited Escapes in Joliet, Illinois. This immersive fantasy takes you on a 60-minute adventure where you'll solve puzzles and uncover the mysterious disappearance of Edith Whitby. With unique and complex challenges, you'll feel like a ghost hunter in a fully detailed, themed environment.
Where: Joliet, IL | More Info: Spirited Escapes / Haunted Mansion Escape Room
Lost Souls Haunted Bus Tour
What to Expect:
Enjoy VIP-access to Chicagoland's biggest and best haunted houses with exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and live entertainment.
Description:
Experience the ultimate in haunted house excitement with Lost Souls Haunted Bus Tour. Each tour features a VIP-access bus ride to some of Chicagoland's biggest and best haunted houses, including Basement of the Dead, HellsGate, and Joliet Haunted Prison. Enjoy drinks, live entertainment, contests, and FREE merchandise during the ride. With over 30 years of experience in the haunt industry, Terry and Brewster Bonesaw will take you inside the haunted house industry with exclusive lights-on tours and behind-the-scenes insights.
Where: Chicago, IL | More Info: Lost Souls Haunted Bus Tour
Scream Scene
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted house experience with new characters and sets each year.
Description:
Scream Scene is a seasonal haunted house held at the abandoned Skokie Water Playground. Each year, it features new characters and sets, making it a more frightening experience than the last. The event includes chainsaw maniacs and an insane clown maze, and it has been terrifying visitors since 1997. Parental discretion is advised, as it is not recommended for children under 10 years old.
Where: Skokie, IL | More Info: Scream Scene
Shadow Carriers: Andersonville Ghost Tour
What to Expect:
A guided walking tour that delves into the eerie stories and legends of Andersonville's most beloved spots.
Description:
Join veteran paranormal tour guides Orion Couling and Zack Meyer on a 1.5-mile walking tour through Andersonville, exploring the eerie stories and dark history of this beloved Chicago neighborhood. This tour, which has received high acclaim and sold out last year, promises a spine-chilling experience with nationally renowned storytellers.
Where: Chicago, IL | More Info: Shadow Carriers: Andersonville Ghost Tour
St. Pat's Haunted House
What to Expect:
Disturbia Haunted House offers an adrenaline-pumping scare experience with expertly designed rooms and state-of-the-art special effects.
Description:
Experience a bone-chilling adventure at Disturbia Haunted House, located near Chicago, IL. This thrilling fright house features expertly designed rooms and scenarios, state-of-the-art special effects, and expertly trained actors. Each fear-inducing moment is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind experience.
Where: Lockport, IL | More Info: St. Pat's Haunted House
Haunted Woods Of Creekhill
What to Expect:
A haunted trail spread over almost 10 acres of wooded landscape, offering a unique and immersive Halloween experience.
Description:
Located in the heart of the hillbilly devil’s triangle, Haunted Woods Of Creek Hill offers a thrilling Halloween experience. The haunted trail spans almost 10 acres of wooded landscape, featuring a variety of scary scenes and creatures. With a history of thrill seekers visiting since 2011, this event promises an unforgettable experience. Whether you're an actor or a thrill-seeker, Haunted Woods Of Creek Hill is the perfect place to test your courage.
Where: Mt Auburn, IL | More Info: Haunted Woods Of Creekhill
Spider Hill Haunted Attractions
What to Expect:
Comprehensive and varied haunted experiences, including a redesigned Massacre Mansion and a revamped Trail of Terror, along with a new Paranormal Investigations experience.
Description:
Spider Hill Haunted Attractions is celebrating its 25th year of production. Located at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois, it offers four terrifying attractions: Rage Room, Massacre Mansion, Trail of Terror, and Zombie Invasion Paintball Adventure. The event includes a bonfire, face painting, roaming monsters, and more. It is open every Friday and Saturday in October, with gates opening at 6 PM and scares starting at 7 PM.
Where: Chillicothe, IL | More Info: Spider Hill Haunted Attractions
Haunted Woods Walk
What to Expect:
A Halloween event with varying levels of scare for different age groups.
Description:
Experience the scariest scout camp around at the 2024 Haunted Woods Walk. This event offers a less scary experience for younger ghouls from 5 PM to 6 PM on October 26, while everyone else can enjoy the full scare from 6 PM to 9:30 PM. The event takes place at the Rainbow Scout Reservation in Morris, Illinois.
Where: Morris, IL | More Info: Haunted Woods Walk
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Waukegan
Waukegan Trick or Treat
What to Expect:
Emphasis on safety tips provided by the Waukegan Police Department to ensure a safe trick-or-treat experience.
Description:
Waukegan's official trick-or-treat event will take place on Sunday, October 27, from 2pm to 5pm. The Waukegan Police Department has provided safety tips to ensure a fun and safe experience for children. Parents are advised to accompany their children, avoid isolated homes, and check candy before consumption.
Where: Waukegan | More Info: Waukegan Trick or Treat
Waukegan Halloween Trick or Treat Trail
What to Expect:
An enchanted trail with professionally costumed characters where children receive candy.
Description:
The Waukegan Halloween Trick or Treat Trail is a family-friendly event that takes place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 1pm to 3pm at Bowen Park. The event features an enchanted trail with professionally costumed characters, where children can receive candy throughout the trail while supplies last. This free event is designed to celebrate Halloween with a fun and festive atmosphere.
Where: Waukegan | More Info: Waukegan Halloween Trick or Treat Trail
Pirates Cove
What to Expect:
The resort offers a mix of Outer Banks condos and vacation homes with easy access to beautiful beaches and various outdoor activities.
Description:
Pirates Cove Realty in the Outer Banks offers luxury vacation rentals and condos, including pet-friendly options. The resort features a pool, tennis courts, marina, and a restaurant and tiki bar, providing a range of amenities for a relaxing coastal vacation.