Free Halloween Events for Kids Near Chicago in 2026
Free Trick-or-Treating Events Near Chicago
Park District of LaGrange Trunk-or-Treat
LaGrange
Saturday, October 10, 2026
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
Itasca Trick-or-Treat Trail
Itasca
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Walk the trail around the Springbrook Nature Center to receive crafts and treats from local businesses. Costumes are encouraged! Website
Spooky Zoo (at Lincoln Park Zoo)
Lincoln Park
Saturday, October 17, 2026
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
Trunk-or-Treat at Addams Park
West Town
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Kids can dress in their Halloween costumes to trick-or-treat from the trunks of cars at Addams Park. Bring little ones in costume to celebrate the season. Website
Ar-BOO-retum Trick-or-Treat (at the Arboretum of South Barrington)
South Barrington
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Bring your trick-or-treat bags and stroll throughout the Arboretum of South Barrington to collect candy and treats from participating retailers and the event tent. It's a safe, festive way to celebrate Halloween with family and friends! Witches, warlocks, superheroes, princesses, and all kinds of spooky, silly, and spectacular costumes are welcome. Website
Lemonster Days Trick-or-Treating (in Downtown Lemont)
Lemont
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The Village of Lemont hosts its annual Halloween costume contest, parade, and downtown trick-or-treating. Website
Roselle American Legion Trunk-or-Treat
Roselle
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The Roselle American Legion and Rotary Club host their annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The party includes candy, music, games, and more. Website
Lincoln Park Spooktacular 2026
Lincoln Park
Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2026
Trick-or-treat at select businesses along Lincoln Avenue between Wrightwood and Webster on Saturday or Clark Street on Sunday on the weekend before Halloween. Magicians, stilt walkers, and jugglers will meet and greet trick-or-treaters along the way. Website
Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood
Sunday, October 25, 2026
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
Blodgett House Boo Fest
Downers Grove
Saturday, October 31, 2026
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 31, 2026
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
Free Halloween Festivals Near Chicago
Skeletober (in Downtown LaGrange)
LaGrange
Daily, October 1-31, 2026
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
Halloween Hoot 'n Howl (at Keystone Park West)
River Forest
Friday, October 2, 2026
Spooky animals take center stage at this event sponsored by the River Forest Park District, the Trailside Museum, and the 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
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival
Highwood
Friday - Sunday, October 2-4, 2026
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
Caldwell Woods Pumpkin Palooza
Niles
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Paint pumpkins and bowl, dye buckthorn, play ring toss, maneuver through a fall-themed obstacle course, and more! Website
Pumpkin Patch at Sheridan Park
University Village
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Sheridan Park hosts a pumpkin patch for the whole family, featuring a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and face painting. Website
Elmhurst Family Fall Fest
Elmhurst
Saturday, October 3, 2026
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 Beavers Donuts, Billy Bricks Deli Truck, Kona Ice, Nick’s Pizza Truck, Smallcakes of Elmhurst, and Smash N' Roll. Kids can also enjoy face painting and a balloon artist. Website
Lombard Fall Fest
Lombard
Saturday, October 3, 2026
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 - Sunday, October 9-11, 2026
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
Monster Mash at Yorktown Center
Lombard
Sunday, October 18, 2026
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
The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt
South Holland
Saturday, October 18, 2026
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
Pumpkin Patch at Dvorak Park
Pilsen
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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
Hinsdale Fall Family Fest
Hinsdale
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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
BOOmingdale Halloween Party
Bloomingdale
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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 a trunk-or-treat while the library will host a hay maze, a moon jump, a balloon artist, a face painter, and refreshments. Website
Forest Park Casket Races
Forest Park
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The Forest Park Casket Races is a delightfully eerie and offbeat annual event in downtown Forest Park, now celebrating its 14th year. Participants create their own "caskets," which are essentially coffin-shaped carts fitted with wheels and adorned in their favorite spooky decor. Come to watch, and trick-or treat along Madison Street afterwards. Website
Spooky Saturday on the Main-Dempster Mile
Evanston
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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
Spooky Stories & S'mores (in Thatcher Woods)
River Forest
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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
Batfest (at Peg Bond Center)
Batavia
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Visit downtown Batavia to enjoy bat-themed fun including trick-or-treating, a parade, a pumpkin bowl, bat art, stories, games, and more. Kids can see a show of live bats, watch dance performances, and listen to live music. Website
Halloween Monster Mash Party at Welles Park
Hermosa
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Visit Kelvyn for a fun-filled community Halloween celebration! This family-friendly event is designed to bring everyone together for an evening of costumes, games, music, candy, and festive activities for the entire family. Website
Naperville Halloween Happening
Naperville
Sunday, October 25, 2026
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
Slightly Spooky Saturday: Family Halloween (at Navy Pier)
Downtown
Saturday, October 31, 2026
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
Darien Lions Club Halloween Party
Darien
Saturday, October 31, 2026
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 (starting on Columbus Drive)
Downtown
Saturday, October 24, 2026
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 24, 2026
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 24, 2026
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
Little Boo Bash at Edgebrook Library
Edgebrook
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Edgebrook Library's Halloween parade is back! Kids can come dressed in their costumes to dance and 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
Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
Lakeview
Saturday, October 31, 2026
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