Waukegan Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

The 15th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival returns October 3-5, 2025, transforming Downtown Highwood into a fall wonderland. This family-friendly event features a massive carnival, live music across three stages, pumpkin carving stations, and a variety of food and artisan...

Join the Park District of Highland Park for a free, family-friendly Trunk or Treat event at Hidden Creek AquaPark. Children aged 2 and up are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes and go car-to-car collecting treats from creatively...

Experience Chicagoland's cherished fall tradition at Happy Times Pumpkin Fest, held at Didier Farms. This family-friendly event offers a delightful array of attractions, including a challenging corn maze, exciting amusement rides, and a petting zoo. Visitors can also enjoy unique...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the annual Ravinia District Halloween Candy Stroll! This beloved event invites families to visit participating businesses for delightful trick-or-treating. It's the perfect way to enjoy a festive Halloween afternoon filled with treats and...

Get ready for a spooktacular time with Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players! This Halloween show, 'Trick or Treat!', is perfect for the whole family. Known for his 'kiddie rock' and feel-good songs, Justin Roberts delivers a...

Experience the magic of Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This enchanting event features thousands of artist-carved pumpkins, including giant gourds and themed displays. Enjoy live carving demonstrations, meet costumed characters, and savor festive food and drinks...

Unleash the fun at the Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest! Dogs and their humans are invited to strut their stuff in creative costumes for a chance to win prizes. Even if you don't have a dog, all are welcome to join...

Embark on a delightful Trick-or-Treat Trail where friendly characters await to hand out candy. This event offers a safe, no-scare zone perfect for children 12 and under, ensuring a fun-filled experience with games and entertainment. Parents must accompany children throughout...

Get ready for a spooktacular morning at the Kenosha YMCA's Trunk or Treat! Families are invited to don their costumes and enjoy a festive Halloween celebration. Children can trick-or-treat from creatively decorated car trunks, participate in fun games, and enjoy...

Join the spooky and inclusive 2025 Special Needs Trunk-or-Treat for a fun-filled Halloween celebration. Local businesses and organizations will decorate their car trunks, offering candy and information. This accessible event is designed for kids with special needs but is open...

Lace up your running shoes and don your best costume for the annual Halloween 3K Fun Run and Walk! This festive event winds through the scenic Techny Prairie Park and Fields, offering a perfect way to embrace the spooky season....

Experience the magic of Pumpkins in the Woods at Hubbard Woods Park! This family-friendly event features pumpkin decorating, exciting carnival games, and fun bounce houses. Register for the costume contest with categories for most original, scariest, and funniest, with winners...

Experience the quintessential fall celebration at Jerry Smith Farm's 'Fall at the Farm' event. This beloved destination offers a full season of autumn magic for all ages, featuring a vast pumpkin patch, unlimited hayrides, and a challenging 6-acre corn maze....

Join the Halloween Skelebration for a fright-free evening of fun for ghouls, goblins, and skeletons aged 2-12. This indoor/outdoor bash features a live DJ, face painting, creepy-cool crafts, ghoulish games, and spooky entertainment. Parents must accompany children, and costumes are...

Lace up your running shoes and don your most creative costume for the 20th Anniversary of the Halloween Hustle 5K and Kid's Dash. This festive event benefits The Boys and Girls Club of Palatine, offering a scenic 5K route for...

Get ready for the 4th annual 'BOO in the Barn' at SOUL Harbour Ranch! This festive Halloween fundraiser offers a spooky trail walk, trick-or-treat stations, a craft project, and a campfire cookout. Meet the ranch's beloved therapy animals, including mini...

Get lost in the thrill of the world's largest corn maze, spanning an incredible 28 acres with a new theme each year. Beyond the maze, discover a pumpkin patch perfect for finding your autumn centerpiece, and for the brave, experience...

Get lost in the "World's Largest" corn maze at Richardson Adventure Farm, celebrating 40 years of "Back to the Future" with an intricate 28-acre design. Explore 9-10 miles of trails, divided into four smaller mazes, and utilize observation bridges for...

This fall, Wicked Wilmette moves lakeside to Gillson Park and the Lakeview Center for an evening of family-friendly frights. Kids can enjoy inflatable bounce houses, face painting, and a spooky hayride adventure. Explore 'Spooky Stations' for treats and pick out...

Get ready for a spooktacular Trunk or Treat event at Pioneer Park! This Halloween celebration features over 40 decorated trunks filled with treats, exciting inflatables, a giant slide, and a fun photo booth. A DJ will keep the energy high...

Bring the whole family to Linden Square for a delightful trick-or-treating adventure! Participating businesses will be handing out treats and giveaways. Don your favorite Halloween costume, whether you're a goblin, ghost, wizard, or superhero. The event features live entertainment and...

Join the Central Street Trick Or Treat event for a delightful family celebration. Children can visit participating businesses to collect treats, enjoy creative Halloween-themed crafts, and soak in the festive community spirit. It's a perfect way to celebrate the holiday...

Discover a harvest of fun at Stade's Farm & Market's Shades of Autumn Fall Festival. This beloved event offers nine weekends of family-friendly entertainment, featuring a massive 33-acre pumpkin patch, a challenging 2-acre corn maze, and a delightful petting zoo....

Get into the Halloween spirit at the Des Plaines Trunk or Treat! Kids aged 3 and up are invited to wear their costumes and visit decorated car trunks to collect festive treats. Registration is required for all participants, with free...

Join the NSPT Evanston team for a festive Halloween open house! This family-friendly event is a great opportunity for current and past clients, along with their families and staff, to celebrate the holiday together. Come in costume if you wish,...

Bring the kids to Downtown Evanston for a delightful trick-or-treat stroll on Saturday, October 25th. Families can wander at their own pace, stopping at participating businesses marked with special posters to collect candy and Halloween treats. The event kicks off...

Teens can get into the Halloween spirit at this special 'glow' event. They can show off their costumes in a contest, dance to music, and enjoy a night of festive fun. It's a great opportunity for them to celebrate the...

Experience a hauntingly good time at the A Spooktacular 5K - Trick or Trunk, a family-friendly event featuring a free Trunk or Treat followed by a thrilling 5K night run. Participants are encouraged to wear bright colors and costumes for...

Join the Hoffman Estates community for the Haunted Hoffman Family Fest, a day filled with free family fun and friendly frights. Enjoy live entertainment, games, a bounce house, and a scenic hayride. Meet local firefighters and police officers, and bring...

Downtown Racine comes alive for a spooktacular Halloween Fun First Fridays event! Families can enjoy free pumpkin giveaways and face painting, with live pumpkin carving demonstrations to inspire creativity. Local businesses offer shopping and dining deals, while live music fills...

Join the 6th annual Downtown Racine Candy Crawl and Halloween Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from noon to 2 pm. This family-friendly event transforms downtown into a festive haven where over 30 businesses offer free, safe trick-or-treating. Embark...

Norwood Park transforms into a festive fall haven for a weekend of fun. Enjoy live music spanning rock, country, and blues, alongside a diverse array of food vendors from Chicagoland. Browse local merchandise, and explore the dedicated Family Zone with...

Step back in time at the Autumn Harvest Festival, where they're bringing 19th-century farm life to life. Enjoy hands-on activities like pumpkin decorating, crafts, and games for kids. Experience live music and savor delicious food and beverages from local vendors....

Experience a delightful trick-or-treat adventure at Tricks & Treats in the Valley. This all-ages event invites families to follow a half-mile trail starting at Heritage Farm, venturing through historic buildings and into the scenic woods. Costumes are encouraged for this...

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the Schaumburg Halloween Carnival! This event promises a thrilling carnival experience with exciting rides and classic games. Immerse yourself in a festive Halloween atmosphere filled with spooky decorations and community spirit. It's...

Goebbert's Fall Festival offers a full day of autumn fun for the entire family. Navigate a challenging corn stalk maze, cheer on racing pigs, and meet a variety of farm and exotic animals. Don't miss the iconic Pumpkin-Eating Dinosaur or...

Get into the Halloween spirit at the Free Fall Family Fun Fest! This event invites all ghosts and goblins to enjoy a variety of art activities, a thrilling scavenger hunt, and a festive costume parade. Dress in your best Halloween...

Join the barnyard crew for a Halloween celebration in this delightful musical adaptation of Doreen Cronin's "Click, Clack, Moo" series. When Farmer Brown tries to stop the fun, Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen use clever trickery to ensure a festive...

Get ready for a spooktacular Halloween celebration at Crystal Lake Plaza! This family-friendly event features trick-or-treating at various stores, exciting magic shows, a petting zoo, and creative face painting. Kids can enjoy inflatable obstacle courses and games, while adults can...

Experience the magic of Grayson's Heritage Avenue Holiday Light Show, a spectacular drive-through display. Lights dance in perfect synchronization to your favorite spooky songs, all heard by tuning into 99.7 FM. This impressive show is the creation of a talented...

Get into the Halloween spirit at Gladstone Park's Boo Bash! This family-friendly event invites everyone to come dressed in their best costumes. Enjoy an evening filled with engaging games, creative crafts, and sweet candy, making it a perfect way to...

Bring your little ghosts and goblins to the Racine Zoo for a day of safe, outdoor trick-or-treating. Enjoy spooky cookie decorating, Halloween crafts, and pumpkin decorating. Meet creepy crawly animal ambassadors and bounce houses, with food and drinks available for...

Dive into a unique Halloween experience at The Club at Prairie Stone! Participants will swim through a 'pumpkin patch' to find their perfect pumpkin. After the exciting hunt, enjoy open swim until 2:30 PM, followed by pumpkin decorating and a...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Crystal Lake Truck or Treat! Children are invited to wear their favorite Halloween costumes and bring their treat bags to collect goodies from decorated vehicles. This free, drop-in event is perfect for...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Oak Lawn Trunk or Treat! This free, community event transforms the Connolly Recreation Center parking lot into a Halloween wonderland. Families can stroll through creatively decorated car trunks, each offering a unique...

Main Event Hoffman Estates transforms into a spooky arcade for a frightfully fun Halloween night. Enjoy bowling, creative crafts like pumpkin and pin decorating, and engaging contests. It's a monster mash of fun for friends and family, complete with giveaways...

Get ready for Aville-o-Ween in Andersonville! This festive celebration offers trick-or-treating through the business district, where local shops hand out candy and prizes. Don't miss Fright on Farragut for spooky games, a DJ, and a popular pooch costume contest. Additional...

Santa's Village transforms into a fall wonderland for their annual Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival. Wander through multiple pumpkin patches, enjoy a harvest-themed menu, and experience added attractions like a corn pit and mini straw maze. The park's amusement rides...

Join the Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooood event for a delightful trick-or-treat experience for children. Participating businesses in the Lincoln Square Ravenswood district will hand out treats. Additionally, families can enjoy a free pumpkin decorating activity hosted by Concordia Place outside...

Get ready for a spooktacular morning of Halloween fun in the Northcenter neighborhood! Families are invited to don their most creative costumes and join in a festive trick-or-treat event. It's a perfect opportunity for kids to gather goodies and enjoy...

Celebrate the autumn season at the Fall Fest, a beloved Northwest Side tradition. This family-friendly event features a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, and delightful pony rides. Enjoy seasonal treats from the Harvest Café & Grill and immerse yourself in...

Get ready for a spooktacular day at the annual Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party! This vibrant community event brings neighbors, local schools, and businesses together for a festive celebration. Enjoy live music, a dedicated drink tent for adult refreshments, and...

Get ready for Hamilton's Annual Boo Bash, a spooktacular fall festival packed with family fun! Kids and adults are encouraged to wear costumes for a vibrant parade and a Thriller Flash Mob dance lesson. Discover interactive reptile and insect encounters,...

Discover a quintessential fall experience at Swan's Pumpkin Farm, offering a delightful harvest celebration for all ages. Wander through fields filled with thousands of pumpkins, perfect for picking, carving, or cooking. An adventure wristband unlocks access to exciting attractions like...

Gather your little ghosts and goblins for a fang-tastic time at Randall Oaks Zoo's Boo at the Zoo event. This family-friendly celebration features trick-or-treating all day, opportunities to see favorite animals in costume, and daily costume parades. It's a perfect...

Join the Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat for a delightful afternoon of Halloween fun. Over 25 businesses in the Northalsted neighborhood, stretching from Halsted & Belmont to Irving Park & Broadway, will be handing out treats. This free event...

Celebrate the autumn season at the Bensenville Harvest Fest! This family-friendly event at Fischer Farm offers a delightful day of free admission, live music, and engaging activities. Enjoy classic carnival games, wagon rides, and hands-on crafts. Savor delicious fall-themed treats...

Celebrate the start of autumn at the 38th Annual Lincoln Square Apple Fest. This beloved community tradition features a vibrant street festival with over 80 vendors offering fall essentials, alongside a delicious selection of apple-inspired dishes and ciders. Enjoy live...

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at Spooktacular! This beloved Halloween event transforms Lincoln Park into a trick-or-treat wonderland. Families can gather their costumes and candy buckets to collect treats from over 40 local businesses along Lincoln Avenue on...

The 28th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade transforms Chicago's vibrant Northalsted neighborhood into a Halloween spectacle. Ranked among the top parades in the US, it features a dazzling costume contest with hundreds of participants competing for over $4,000 in cash...

Join the community for a festive Halloween celebration on the Square! Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating at local businesses, followed by an exciting costume contest at the Bandstand. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and spooky costumes across multiple...

Experience a full day of autumn excitement at Tom's Farm Market Fall Festival. This family-friendly event offers a 6-acre corn maze, a thrilling moonlight version after dark, and enchanting hayrides. Younger visitors will delight in attractions like the Giant Pumpkin...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the 15th Annual Halloween Fun Fest 2.0 & Parade! This exciting event features a vibrant parade, a town-wide Trick/Trunk-or-Treat, and a chilling 'Haunted Hallway'. Businesses are encouraged to participate and hand out treats,...

Join the Elgin Police Department for their annual Halloween Extravaganza! This free, family-friendly event offers a haunted house, a special trick-or-treat experience at the police station, music, and snacks. Kids 12 and under can showcase their costumes in a dedicated...

Join the Haunt on Hirsch Street for a free family block party filled with Halloween fun. Enjoy inflatables, music from a DJ, and engaging games. Capture memories with spooky displays and don your favorite costume. Complimentary hot dogs are available...