Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near West Ridge 2026

Evanston Free

Free trick-or-treating at local businesses with a fall photo backdrop.

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago 6 mi $$

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

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 9 mi

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

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Chicago $

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

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Chicago 6 mi

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

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

Sun, Oct 25

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

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Sep 25 – Nov 1

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

Illustration of two costumed trick or treaters with candy buckets on a dusk street of glowing houses and carved pumpkins (Central Street Trick Or Treat)

Central Street Trick Or Treat

Evanston

Features neighborhood trick-or-treating, fall selfies, crafts, and a DJ dance party.

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.

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

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

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

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

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Chicago 6 mi

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

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 24 mi $

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

Hamilton Boo Bash

Chicago

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

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

Slightly Spooky Saturday

Chicago 9 mi Free

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

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 10 mi Free

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

Harvest Fest

Medinah 19 mi Free

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

Monster Madness

Sat, Oct 17

Lisle 25 mi $$

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

Wicked Wilmette

Fri, Oct 16

Wilmette 6 mi $$

Family Halloween fun with inflatables, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, and a costume contest

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Chicago 8 mi $

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

Pumpkin Walk

Buffalo Grove 19 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

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 24 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Halloween Hoopla

Fri, Oct 16

Park Ridge 9 mi

Family scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin carving, campfire s'mores, and hayrides.

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 19 mi $$

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 23 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 10 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

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 $$$

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

C1 Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat

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

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 8 mi $$$

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

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 9 mi Free

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

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 20 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 24 mi Free

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

Pumpkin Spice Pilates

Fri, Oct 9

Chicago $$

Mat Pilates session followed by a seasonal pumpkin drink.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 24 mi $

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

Pumpkin Smash & Bash

Sat, Nov 7

Park Ridge 8 mi Free

Roll, smash, and launch pumpkins into compost piles at Centennial Sled Hill.

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 29 mi $

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

The Great Pumpkin Party

Orland Park 28 mi

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

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Event

Dadeville 29 mi Free

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

Illustration of a giant grinning jack-o'-lantern float and costumed marchers parading along a tree-lined park path at dusk (Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating)

Aville-o-Ween Trick-or-Treating

Chicago $

Neighborhood-wide trick-or-treating with over 20 participating businesses.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Click, Clack, BOO! A Tricky Treat)

Click, Clack, BOO! A Tricky Treat

Chicago $$

Musical adaptation of the "Click, Clack, Moo" book series.

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 6 mi $$

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Boo Bash at Gladstone

Family-friendly Halloween celebration with crafts and games.

Illustration of clay goats, a duck and costumed figures among pumpkins and hay beside a small wooden shelter in daylight (Linden Square Pumpkin Walk)

Linden Square Pumpkin Walk

Wilmette 5 mi Free

Trick-or-treating at local businesses with a petting zoo

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Trick-or-Treat at 900)

Trick-or-Treat at 900

Chicago 8 mi $

Indoor trick-or-treating across seven levels of shops

Illustration of two small ghosts and a witch with a black cat carrying pumpkin buckets on a street of cozy houses at dusk (Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat)

Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat

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

Glow Stick Dance Party at Bauler