West Town Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

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

BooPalooza and BarkPalooza

Sat, Oct 17

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

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.

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

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

BOO-seum Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Chicago $$

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

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Chicago $

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

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

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

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.

Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Oct 24 – Oct 25

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

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.

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

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

Pumpkin Fest at Cosley Zoo

Oct 1 – Oct 31

Wheaton 23 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.

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

Slightly Spooky Saturday

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

Fall Fest at Oak Park

Sun, Sep 27

Oak Park 7 mi Free

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

Harvest Fest

Sat, Oct 3

Medinah 21 mi Free

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

Monster Madness

Sat, Oct 17

Lisle 23 mi $$

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

Hull-o-ween Open House

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

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Chicago $

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

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (The Great Pumpkin Party)

The Great Pumpkin Party

Sat, Oct 3

Orland Park 23 mi

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

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 23 mi $

Evening zoo stroll featuring seasonal decorations and pumpkin decorating.

Pumpkin Walk

Sat, Oct 3

Buffalo Grove 24 mi $

Stroll a nature path illuminated by over 100 lighted pumpkins.

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 18 mi $$

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

Trick or Treat Trail

Carol Stream 24 mi

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

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Fri, Oct 2

River Forest 8 mi Free

Family event featuring pumpkin painting and live music.

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 $$$

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 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 (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

Chicago 6 mi Free

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 (Spooktacular Fun Night)

Spooktacular Fun Night

Fri, Oct 30

Westmont 17 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 23 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.

Boo Bash

Thu, Oct 15

Wheaton 23 mi $

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

Family Spooktacular

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Naperville 27 mi $

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

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch)

Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch

Gary 29 mi

Trick-or-treating for children in Pre-K through eighth grade.

Pumpkin Fun @ Woodson

Thu, Oct 22

Gary 29 mi

Bring your own pumpkin to decorate using library-supplied materials.

Illustration of small costumed children and a witch on a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales and orange trees (Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services)

Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services

Mon, Oct 19

Gary 27 mi

Seasonal story hour hosted at the library's Children's Services department.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson)

Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson

Mon, Oct 26

Gary 29 mi

Halloween story session and craft activity held at the library branch.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch)

Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch

Tue, Oct 20

Gary 30 mi

Children's scarecrow craft session at the Kennedy Branch library.

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 5 mi $

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

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 $$

After-hours Halloween event at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Illustration of a fall festival street with big pumpkins in front, striped booths, and small figures under orange trees (Fall Fest at Athletic Field)

Fall Fest at Athletic Field

Community fall festival with ponies and a pumpkin patch

Trick-or-Treat at 900

Chicago $

Indoor trick-or-treating across seven levels of shops

Illustration of an older person handing out candy to costumed children on a glowing neighborhood porch 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