Top Halloween Events for Kids in Chicago 2025

Halloween Trick-or-Treating in Chicago for Kids

Brookfield Zoo Chicago Boo at the Zoo
Brookfield
Saturday, October 4- Friday, October 25
Kids can trick or treat with the animals at Brookfield Zoo at this not-so-scary event during the three weeks leading up to Halloween. Other weekend activities include giant pumpkin carving, a Halloween craft, cupcake and cookie decorating, a haunted hayride, a creepy cowboy carousel, a corn maze, a pumpkin smasher, a costume parade, and a costume contest. Visit the website here.

Zombie Candy Hunt
LaGrange Park
Friday, October 10
Zombies have hidden candy in Sedgwick Park and kids must dress up in costumes to come find it! Bring your own flashlight and bag or bucket to fill with goodies. Visit the website here.

Buffalo Grove Trick or Treat Trail
Buffalo Grove
Friday, October 24
Trick-or-treat from costumed characters along an inside trail at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center. The event is a no-scare zone and includes games and entertainment. The first 200 children will receive a treat bag. Visit the website here.

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. Visit the website here.

Oak Brook Pumpkin Swim
Oak Brook
Friday, October 17
Kids can dive for eggs that contain candy and a chance to win a full-sized pumpkin at Oak Brook Aquatic Center. Kids will be divided by age group into different pools at different times. Fee is for children only; adults are free. Visit the website here.

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

Downtown Wheaton Trick or Treating
Wheaton - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Lincoln Park Spooktacular 2025
Lincoln Park - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Fall Fests and Halloween Parties in Chicago for Kids

Night at the Museum Halloween Party
Wheaton
Friday, October 3
Kids can enjoy after-hours fun at the DuPage County Historical Museum. Activities include a three-story flashlight scavenger hunt, crafts, and a live train demonstration. All kids must be accompanied by a paid adult. Visit the website here.

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. Visit the website here.

Halloween Hoot 'n Howl
River Forest - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Lombard Fall Fest
Lombard - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Halloween Happening
Wheaton
Friday, October 10
At Wheaton's annual Halloween party, kids and their grown-ups enjoy crafts, games, and more. A Touch-A-Truck event, trick or treat trail, bounce house, concession stand, and airbrush tattoos add to the fun for a small fee. Visit the website here.

Hinsdale Fall Family Fest
Hinsdale - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Monster Madness
Lisle
Saturday, October 18
The Lisle Park District brings a bit of country fun to the suburbs with this special fall festival. Families can play games, enjoy an inflatable haunted house, visit a petting zoo, get a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch, and enjoy fall-themed treats. Visit the website here.

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. Visit the website here.

York Center Park District Happenin' Halloween
Lombard - FREE
Saturday, October 18
The York Center Park District opens its gym to families to enjoy carnival games, hayrides, concessions and more. The theme of this year's party is Heroes vs. Villains! Visit the website here.

BOOmingdale Halloween Party
Bloomingdale - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Lombard Monster Bash
Lombard
Thursday, October 23
Little kids can get ready for Halloween with spooky games and ghoulish treats at this Lombard event. Be sure to wear a costume. Visit the website here.

Pumpkins in the Woods
Winnetka
Friday, October 24
Hubbard Woods is transformed into a magical pumpkin patch where kids can decorate pumpkins, play carnival games, bounce through inflatables, listen to music from a DJ, and participate in a costume contest. The whole family can enjoy this Halloween event. Visit the website here.

South Chicago Heights Kids Halloween Party
Chicago Heights
Friday, October 24
Kids can come to the South Chicago Heights Senior Center for ghoulish games, puppets, and spooky fun. Enjoy some frighteningly good food with family and friends. Visit the website here.

Addison Park District Candy Carnival
Addison
Friday, October 24
Kids can play games to win candy at this annual event. Kids receive an extra treat for coming in costume. Inflatables, crafts, and games round out the fun. Parents must accompany their children at this event. Visit the website here.

Pumpkin Patch at Sheridan Park
Near West - FREE
Saturday, October 25
Sheridan Park hosts a pumpkin patch for the whole family, featuring a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and face painting. Visit the website here.

Pumpkin Palooza
Naperville
Saturday, October 25
Kids can celebrate the season by coming in costume to the DuPage Children's Museum for STEAM-themed, non-scary activities. Build your own Franken buddy from recycled toys, create wearable art, brew your own slime, and mix and mash pumpkin guts! Visit the website here.

Slightly Spooky Saturday: Family Halloween
Downtown - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Stars, Stories & S'mores
River Forest - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Naperville Halloween Happening
Naperville - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Spooktacular Saturday at Woodson Library
Washington Heights - FREE
Saturday, October 25
Come celebrate with activities, crafts, prizes, trick or treating and Circus Boy balloon artists at the library! Costumes are encouraged but not required. Visit the website here.

Blodgett House Boo Fest
Downers Grove - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Family-Friendly Halloween Hikes, Walks, and Runs Around Chicago

Halloween Trick or Treat Trail
Oak Brook
Saturday, October 4
Trick-or-treaters can walk a half-mile loop in the woods to receive treats from a variety of characters. Afterward, they can board a wagon to take them to the pumpkin patch to select their very own pumpkin (pumpkins reserved for children). This event tends to sell out; call in advance. Visit the website here.

Scarecrow Scramble
Lisle
Saturday, October 4
Run in the dark at this evening race in Lisle Community Park. Kids ages 5 and older can participate in a half-mile race while adults take part in the 5K. Kids under 5 can do the 50 meter Monster Dash. Visit the website here.

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'- Lanterns
Glencoe
Wednesdays through Sundays, October 8 -October 26
Don't be a scaredy cat, these hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns are a real treat. Explore the Chicago Botanical Gardens for a spook-tacular adventure with more than 1,000 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns to light the way. This event tends to sell out. Visit the website here.

St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend
St. Charles - FREE
Friday, October 10-Sunday, October 12, 2024
St. Charles' fall scarecrow tradition continues with the Scarecrow Stroll, as part of its Scarecrow Festival. Scarecrows are placed throughout the downtown area for families to find. There will be a Family Zone with live entertainment and family fun, an Activity Zone with festive photo ops, Scarecrow-to-Go, and family activities. Visit the website here.

Halloween Parades in Chicago

Arts in the Dark
Downtown - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Haunted Forest Westmont
Westmont
Saturday, October 18
Kids can start at Diane Main Park and be driven on a haunted hayride to Sandra Smith Woods. Then, get off the wagon to walk through the spooky woods. Little kids can have fun at the the earlier session, while teens and tweens can fear characters, ghouls, and goblins that jump out at them after dark at the 7 p.m. edition. Visit the website here.

The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt
South Holland - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Ackerman Spook Trail
Glen Ellyn
Thursday & Friday, October 23-October 24
Take a walk along the spook trail to enjoy Halloween-themed games. Refreshments will be available from local vendors. From 4-6pm., the trail will be non-scary and geared toward younger children. From 6-8pm, it will be spookier for kids 11 and up. Visit the website here.

Boo Bash Trick or Treat Trail
Glen Ellyn
Saturday, October 25
Families can trick-or-treat with their favorite characters along a trail in Maryknoll Park for an early Halloween treat. At the end of the trail, each child can pick a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch. Visit the website here.

Halloween Hustle
Palatine
Saturday, October 25
Grab your friends and family for a spooktacular 5K and kids dash in Palatine. Kids dash participants receive a race shirt, medal, pumpkin, and free drink and half sandwich at Tap House Grill. Visit the website here.

Glen Ellyn Halloween Spooktacular Festival and Parade
Glen Ellyn - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Logan Square Halloween Parade
Logan Square - FREE
Sunday, October 27
This community event is attended by hundreds each year, marching from the Illinois Centennial Memorial south on Kedzie to Fullerton, then turning around to end at Cafe Lula with free cider and cookies for kids. Mucca Pazza will once again lead the event! Visit the website here.

Little Boo Bash at Edgebrook Library
Edgebrook - FREE
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. Visit the website here.

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
Lakeview - FREE
Thursday, 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. Visit the website here.

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