Best Free Halloween Events
for Kids in Chicago 2025

Free Trick-or-Treating Events Near Chicago

Itasca Trick or Treat Trail
Itasca
Saturday, October 18
Walk the trail around the Springbrook Nature Center to receive crafts and treats from local businesses. Costumes are encouraged! Website

Lemonster Days Trick-or-Treating Downtown Lemont
Lemont
Saturday, October 25
The Village of Lemont hosts its annual Halloween costume contest, parade and downtown trick-or-treating. Website

Spooky Zoo
Lincoln Park
Saturday, October 18
Kids can trick-or-treat for sustainably sourced candy at Lincoln Park Zoo from 10am until the candy runs out. Kids can enjoy free carousel rides, spooky chats and learning activities, and fall rides and attractions to keep the party going. Website

Downtown Wheaton Trick or Treating
Wheaton
Saturday, October 25
Wear your Halloween costume and visit downtown Wheaton businesses to trick-or-treat a few days early. Kids can also look for spooky signs throughout the downtown as part of the I Spy scavenger hunt. Website

Aville-o-Ween
Andersonville
Saturday, October 25
Trick-or-treat at local businesses on and around Catalpa Street. Treats will include candy apples, gourds, and pie pumpkins. Plus, kids can get a picture with Spiderman and maybe some other costumed characters at Alley Cat Comics. Website

Lincoln Park Spooktacular 2025
Lincoln Park
Saturday & Sunday, October 25-October 26
Trick-or-treat at select businesses along Lincoln Avenue between Wrightwood and Webster on Saturday or Clark Street on Sunday for the week before Halloween. Magicians, stilt walkers, and jugglers will meet and greet trick or treaters along the way. Website

Trick or Treat at The Glen Town Center
Glenview
Saturday, October 25
Children 12 and under are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and TRICK-OR-TREAT from 3:00 to 5:00pm. Participating tenants will display a pumpkin in their storefront windows. There will also be live music and strolling entertainers. Website

American Girl Trick-or-Treat
Magnificent Mile
Saturday, October 25, Sunday, October 26, and Friday, October 31
American Girl hosts a FREE trick-or-treat where kids who visit the store in costume will receive a sweet treat (while supplies last). Website

Proesel Park Trunk-or-Treat
Lincolnwood
Sunday, October 26
Treats, games and spooky fun are on hand at Lincolnwood's Proesel Park this Halloween. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Website

Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood
Sunday, October 26
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood transform into Lincoln Scared and Ravenswooooooood for early trick-or-treating. Businesses hand out candy and other treats, and a pumpkin decorating station sets up on Damen Avenue. Website

Trick or Treat at Paschen Park
Montclare
Friday, October 31
Kids can dress in their Halloween costumes to trick or treat at Paschen Park. Bring little ones in costume to celebrate the season. Website

Blodgett House Boo Fest
Downers Grove
Friday, October 31
Families can avoid the rain (or snow) by trick-or-treating indoors at the Downers Grove Museum. The Victorian themed Blodgett House will be decorated for the occasion and will host a scavenger hunt. Website

Park District of Forest Park Trunk or Treat
Forest Park
Saturday, October 25
Kids can trick-or-treat in a safe environment from the trunks of decorated cars at the Park District of Forest Park's Trunk or Treat event. Car owners will come dressed up and pass out candy from their vehicles. Website

Park District of LaGrange Trunk or Treat
LaGrange
Saturday, October 18
Have a spooktacular good time at Sedgwick Park by trick-or-treating from the trunks of decorated cars. Halloween games, a balloon artist, and a face painter will complete the fun. Website

Roselle American Legion Trunk or Treat
Roselle
Saturday, October 25
The Roselle American Legion and Rotary Club host their annual Trunk or Treat event. The party includes candy, music, games, and more. Website

Free Halloween Festivals Near Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest
Lincoln Park
September 26-October 28
Families can enjoy a walk through the pumpkin patch, a pumpkin-carving demonstration, and pumpkin-themed treats like a caramel apple station and a s'more station at Lincoln Park Zoo throughout October. Website

Fall Fest at The Arb
South Barrington
Sunday, September 21
Bon Journeyed will take the stage at this event! Friends for over 30 years, Tyler Holcomb of ARRA & Matthew Pablecas of Oh Yes! join forces to create the Ultimate Bon Jovi/Journey experience! The event also includes inflatable bull rides, big trucks, train Rides, face painting, balloon art, and more! Website

Skeletober
LaGrange
October 1-31
Downtown LaGrange celebrates Skeletober, a display of unique life-size decorated skeletons on the sidewalks of local businesses. Families can take pictures with the skeletons and participate in a skeleton scavenger hunt. Families can also enjoy live music at Milk Money Brewing. Website

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival
Highwood
Friday, October 3-Sunday, October 5
Visit Highwood for all the pumpkin-based fun you could wish for. This three-day festival includes all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations, a carnival, live entertainment, a 5k, craft and food vendors, and pet and kid costume contests. Website

Halloween Hoot 'n Howl
River Forest
Friday, October 3
Spooky animals take center stage at this event sponsored by the River Forest Park District, Trailside Museum, and River Forest Public Library. Kids 10 and under, accompanied by a parent, can see live native animals, listen to live music and spooky stories, make s'mores and hot chocolate around a bonfire, and paint pumpkins. Website

Ghost Stories in the Park... In the Dark
Naperville
Friday, October 3-Sunday, October 5
Hear thrilling and chilling stories outdoors along the Naperville Riverwalk. Summer Place Theater puts on the show at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. This event is recommended for kids ages 5 and up, with an 8pm session on Saturday night for kids 12 and up. Website

Caldwell Woods Pumpkin Palooza
Niles
Saturday, October 4
Families can enjoy nature's contributions to Halloween by painting pumpkins, playing gourd ring toss, making leaf rubbings, and running through a fall-themed obstacle course. Website

Pumpkin Patch at Dvorak Park
Pilsen
Saturday, October 18
This family-friendly event is packed with seasonal excitement for all ages! Enjoy a FREE pumpkin (one per person while supplies last), meet adorable animals at the petting farm, and take a spin on pony rides. Kids can get creative with arts and crafts, fill their bags with treats at a Trunk or Treat, and brave the thrills of the spooky Haunted House. Website

Elmhurst Family Fall Fest
Elmhurst
Saturday, October 4
Safety Town trick-or-treating, an inflatable corn maze obstacle course, and fall games are on hand for families at Wild Meadows Trace in Elmhurst. Families can stay for lunch to visit food trucks including Brown's Chicken, Nick's Woodfire Pizza Truck, Tacos El Amigazo, D's Treats and Ice Cream, and Smallcakes. Kids can also enjoy face painting and a balloon artist. Website

Lombard Fall Fest
Lombard
Saturday, October 4
Kids can kick off the Halloween season at Lombard's annual fall event. Kids can enjoy games, dancing, face painting, and a candy hunt. The Lombard Community Building will host Boo Bingo from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Website

St. Charles Scarecrow Festival
St. Charles
Friday, October 10-Sunday, October 12
More than 100 handmade and mechanical scarecrows will be on display in downtown St. Charles for this 35th annual fall tradition. Families can make their own scarecrow, enjoy live entertainment, shop at the arts and crafts show, or ride carnival rides while enjoying the fall weather. Website

Hinsdale Fall Family Fest
Hinsdale
Saturday, October 18
West suburban families can visit Burlington Park to paint pumpkins, enjoy giveaways from local businesses, visit food trucks, and trick-or-treat at downtown businesses. Inflatables and roaming entertainment will also be on hand. Website

Wicker Park Boo-palooza and Bark-palooza
Wicker Park
Saturday, October 18
Families can help raise money for the Wicker Park "Gardens We Design" at this family-friendly Halloween event featuring kids' musicians, a costume parade, and a pumpkin patch and decorating area. Play games including pin-the-tail on various popular cartoons, find the "needle" in the haystack, or work your way through a straw maze. Website

BOOmingdale Halloween Party
Bloomingdale
Saturday, October 18
Fall festivities abound at this event sponsored by the Bloomingdale Park District, Village of Bloomingdale, Bloomingdale Public Library, and Friends of the Bloomingdale Public Library. The Police and Fire Department will offer Halloween-themed building tours and trunk or treat while the library will host a hay maze, moon jump, balloon artist, face painter, and refreshments. Website

Haunted Hoffman Family Fest
Hoffman Estates
Saturday, October 18
Families can enjoy food trucks, Halloween-themed games, hay rides, live music, and stage events, a story walk, games, a bounce house, and a scenic hayride at this northwest suburban event. Website

Forest Park Casket Races
Forest Park
Saturday, October 18
The Forest Park Casket Races is a delightfully eerie and offbeat annual event in downtown Forest Park, now celebrating its 13th year. Participants create their own "caskets," which are essentially coffin-shaped carts fitted with wheels and adorned in their favorite spooky decor. Website

The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt
South Holland
Saturday, October 18
Discover all of the tiny pumpkins in Sand Ridge Nature Center in a scavenger hunt. Participants who find all the pumpkins can take home a pumpkin as a prize. Website

Monster Mash at Yorktown Center
Lombard
Saturday, October 18
The ultimate family-friendly Halloween event is packed with ghoulish delights for kids of all ages. Come in your most spooktacular costume (dogs in costume welcome too!) and enjoy an afternoon of fang-tastic activities! Website

Stars, Stories & S'mores
River Forest
Saturday, October 25
Enjoy a cozy fire, s'mores, a spooky story trail, and pumpkin painting in Thatcher Woods. Kids can also stargaze in their Halloween costumes at this Forest Preserve District event. Website

Spooky Saturday on the Main-Dempster Mile
Evanston
Saturday, October 25
North suburban families can enjoy live music and a pumpkin carving contest to celebrate fall along the Main-Dempster Mile. Trick-or-treat at local businesses and participate in a kid or pet costume parade. Music from SCarolers will add to the fun. Website

Slightly Spooky Saturday: Family Halloween
Downtown
Saturday, October 25
Halloween takes over Navy Pier! Families can enjoy circus acts, mad scientist demos, axe throwing, a costume contest, face-painting demos, and more at shops and restaurants around the Pier. Website

Pumpkin Patch at Sheridan Park
University Village
Saturday, October 25
Sheridan Park hosts a pumpkin patch for the whole family, featuring a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and face painting. Website

Batfest
Batavia
Saturday, October 25
Visit downtown Batavia to enjoy bat-themed fun including trick or treating, a parade, pumpkin bowl, bat art, stories, games and more. Kids can see a show of live bats, see dance performances, and listen to live music. Website

Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt
Barrington
Sunday, October 26
Families can go on a self-guided hike to find Halloween clues around Crabtree Nature Center. Find all the clues to earn a treat! Costumes are encouraged but not required. Website

Naperville Halloween Happening
Naperville
Sunday, October 26
Visit the Naperville Riverwalk's Grand Pavilion for Halloween games, activities and treats. Hayrides and a pumpkin patch add to the fall fun. This free event is intended for kids 10 and under. Website

Halloween Party at Welles Park
Lincoln Square
Sunday, October 26
Visit Welles Park for its annual Community Halloween Party. Games, craft projects, treats and more will make this a fun time. Wear your most creative and spookiest costume. Website

Darien Lions Club Halloween Party
Darien
Friday, October 31
Woud-be trick-or-treaters can enjoy indoor fun including ice skating, a "graveyard," games and a musician. More than 1,300 kids attended last year to enjoy Halloween in a safe, warm environment. Website

Halloween Parades Near Chicago

Arts in the Dark
Downtown
Saturday, October 18
Arts in the Dark is an evening parade that celebrates Halloween as the "artist's holiday," bringing together Chicago institutions and organizations dedicated to art and education. Audience members will be delighted by unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances set against the backdrop of Chicago’s majestic skyline. Website

Glen Ellyn Halloween Spooktacular Festival and Parade
Glen Ellyn
Saturday, October 25
Join in the parade in downtown Glen Ellyn before trick-or-treating at local businesses. Kids can also play games and make crafts in the downtown area. Website

Bartlett Halloween Fun Fest 2.0 & Parade
Bartlett
Saturday, October 25
Watch as the Halloween Parade steps off from Bartlett Village Hall to the Depot Museum, then trunk-or-treat downtown and visit the haunted hallway at Town Center. Paint a pumpkin or ride a mini-train for an extra fee. Website

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
Lakeview
Friday, October 31
North Halsted Street in Boystown celebrates Halloween unlike any other neighborhood in Chicago. Parade entries may include LED robots, the Lakeside Marching Band, and Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers. A costume contest awards cash prizes to contestants in seven different categories, including a category for youth. Website

Little Boo Bash at Edgebrook Library
Edgebrook
Friday, October 31
Edgebrook Library's Halloween parade is back! Kids can come dressed in their costumes to dance to enjoy a mini costume parade and photo spot, crawl-through box maze, toilet paper mummy races, build-a monster craft station, seasonal snacks and plenty of time to play, explore, and connect. Website

Free Halloween Movies Near Chicago

"Goosebumps 2" Screening at Thurgood Marshall Library
Auburn Gresham
Sunday, October 12
Thurgood Marshall Library shows the 2018 film Goosebumps 2. The movie is about two friends find a mysterious book in an abandoned house. They accidentally unleash Slappy the evil ventriloquist dummy, and he’s bringing Halloween to life! Now it’s up to them to stop the chaos before their town is overrun by monsters. Goosebumps 2 is a fun and fright-filled adventure perfect for kids, families, and anyone who loves a good Halloween scare. Website

Best Free Halloween Events for Kids in Chicago 2025

Best Free Halloween Events
for Kids in Chicago 2025