Boo Bashes! Halloween Events You Shouldn't Miss

Take a break from getting lost and found in corn mazes and working your way around all the harvest festivals Chicago has to offer to focus on faBOOlous Halloween extravaganzas. Whether you have a lover of all things scary, an animal lover or a candy craver to keep entertained, we’ve dug up spooky Halloween fun for the family. Check out our list of happenings, if you dare . . .

photo: 360 CHICAGO

TILT Terror Nights at 360 Chicago

Celebrate the year’s spookiest month with a longer, faster, scarier ride on TILT. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Pier Pumpkin Lights at Navy Pier

Navy Pier has transformed into an experiential fall spectacle with nearly 1,000 pumpkins. Visitors can explore a variety of pumpkin pop-up installations and enjoy Pier-wide deals and Halloween festivities. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Boo at the Zoo

Little ghosts and goblins of all ages are sure to have a howlin’ good time at Brookfield Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration. The not-so-scary and fun-filled event features free treats as the kids leave the zoo, a corn maze, inflatables, new photo opps, and Halloween-themed crafts and activities each weekend. Through Oct. 24. Event details.

photo: Naper Settlement

All Hallows Eve at Naper Settlement

Prepare to come face-to-face with literature’s most frightening characters of the past, present and future or meet the lost souls of the dead who you won’t soon forget. With 12-acres of must-see Halloween creatures and entertainment, this fear fest is for kids 8-years-old and up. Oct. 15 & 16; Event details.

Trick-or-Treat at Naper Settlement

Slip (or slither) into your best costume and enjoy a low-key trick-or-treat amongst the historical homes at Naper Settlement. Oct. 31. Event details.

photo: MSI

Boo Fest at Museum of Science & Industry

Museum of Science and Industry's Boo Fest is two weeks of family friendly science experiments that will get you in the Halloween spirit! Explore specially decorated exhibits, examine the science of Halloween with pumpkin drops and slime, try your hand at eyeball dissection and more. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Scarecrow Trail at Morton Arboretum

Guests can stroll around Meadow Lake to view scarecrows created by local scout troops and school groups. After your walk, vote for your favorite scarecrow in the visitors center. Daily in October. Event details.

photo: Great Wolf Lodge

Halloween Fun at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is hosting their annual month-long Howl-O-Ween celebration! This year's activities include Trick-Or-Treat Trail, The Thrill of Howl-O-Ween Yoga Tails, Monster Bash Dance Party and Critter Cartoons, just to name a few. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Halloween at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

Throughout the Halloween weekend, stop by Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba's take-out window for free trick-or-treating. On Sunday, Oct. 31, wear your costume and your table will get a choice of one free dessert tapas to share. Halloween weekend. Event details.

Geneva Commons Inclusive Halloween Event

Geneva Commons is hosting the ultimate Halloween experience for kids of all ages featuring sensory-friendly and allergy-friendly activities. Don't forget your costumes! Oct. 30. Event details.

photo: Museum of Illusions

Halloween at Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions Chicago has completely transformed into the Museum of Spooky Illusions with mind-bending illusions. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Pumpkin Fest at Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

Harvest memories with your family at Siegel's Pumpkin Fest! Make your way through the Super Mario corn maze, take a hayride, pick your favorite pumpkin, tip-toe through a haunted barn or spooky shed, pet the goats and so much more! Through Oct. 31. Event details.

photo: JoJo's Shake Bar

Pumpkin Patch at Jo Jo's Shake Bar

JoJo's Shake Bar is satisfying your sweet tooth with over-the-top treats AND bringing an authentic fall experience to the heart of Chicago with their elaborate Pumpkin Patch. The 5,000 square foot patio is filled with over 600 pumpkins, a 1954 red Ford truck, hay bales, and a bathtub filled with corn to satisfy your Halloween photo needs. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Music of Phish for Kids Halloween Party

Thalia Hall welcomes Rock & Roll Playhouse for their Music of Phish for Kids Halloween Party. Oct. 31. Event details.

Free Halloween Movie at North Riverside Mall

Enjoy a free showing of Scoob! Oct. 23. Event details.

Slasher Museum at Replay Lincoln Park

Fear not, Halloween Fans! Replay is back with their latest pop-up installment, Slasher Museum. The gaming area has been transformed into a manor of the macabre filled with frightening replicas of iconic slashers including Michael Myers, Freddy and Leatherface. The space includes themed weekly trivia, costume contests, horror-movie-themed arcade and pinball games and more. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

Fear Month at The Forge: Lemont Quarries

The Forge: Lemont Quarries is inviting all to the largest outdoor adventure course in North America. In addition to regular activities, they are hosting Fear Month with Halloween-themed movies, zombie laser tag, fireside ghost stories and a guided adventure game. Through Oct. 31. Event details.

photo: Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

Socially Distanced Trick-or-Treating

Chicago families looking for a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience can head to The Bucktown Green for a socially distanced event. The day includes 25 businesses from Wicker Park and Bucktown spread out to give candy and a Halloween photo wall with festive displays. Oct. 31. Event details.

Ghost Hunt at North Riverside Park Mall

Calling all ghouls, goblins, superheroes, princesses and more! Join North Riverside Park Mall for a Halloween Ghost Hunt event. Find them all and turn your clue cheat into Customer Service to receive a Halloween pumpkin pop fidget toy. Oct. 30. Event details.

photo: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Saturday with Snakes at Peggy Notebaert Museum

Slither over to the Nature Museum for a sssuper sssensational celebration of snakes! Trick-or-treat with the resident cold-blooded critters, create your own ceramic snake with Lillstreet Art Center, get up close with unique preserved collections, and participate in a costume contest for a special surprise. Oct. 30. Event details.

Pet Costume Parade in Long Grove

Pets are invited to claw into their best Halloween duds and howl at the moon at Halloween Town's annual pet costume parade in downtown Long Grove. Oct. 24. Event details.

photo: Daisy Anderson via Pexels

Downtown Tinley Boo Bash

This annual event is perfect for families with young kids. Boo Bash features trick-or-treating through business booths, DJ entertainment, a costume contest and much more! Oct. 24. Event details.

Wicker Park Boo-Palooza

Wicker Park bubbles with Halloween fun for the entire family at Boo-Palooza. Kids and their pups can get dressed up and join the costume parade. There's also a pumpkin patch and decorating station, live music, a maze and straw stack and activity tables. Oct. 23. Event details.

UPSIDE DOWN Parade

The 2nd annual UPSIDE DOWN parade will feature dance performances, circus acrobats, musical groups and sports mascots. Don't forget to wear your Halloween costume — and enjoy a complimentary goody bag courtesy of Blommer Chocolate Company, Mars Wrigley and other local candy companies. Oct. 23. Event details.

photo: Arts in the Dark

Arts in the Dark Parade

Arts in the Dark is a magical nighttime parade that draws together world-renowned institutions, celebrated Chicago organizations and aspiring artists in every field. It is a magical evening parade that delights the audience with unique floats, spectacle puppets and creative performances. Oct. 30. Event details.

Halloween Party at Little Beans Evanston

Stop into Little Beans Cafe for a fun Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating, spooky snacks, music and a costume contest. Oct. 30. Event details.

photo: Chicago Botanic Garden

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden

More than 1,000 hand-carved pumpkins—some as large as 150 pounds—will light up the night. The LED-lit jack-o’-lanterns will be staged along a festive paved pathway. Oct. 13-24; Wed.-Sun. Event details. (sold out as of press time)

Glenview Halloween Spooktacular

Get in the Halloween spirit with a ghoulish family friendly outdoor party. You'll find creepy crafts, games, activities and entertainment. Plus, enjoy trunk-or-treats and cozy hayrides around BATtea and Little SCARE Park. Oct. 22. Event details.

BatFest in Batavia

It’s going to get batty at Batavia’s annual Halloween family festival. Fly over for trick-or-treating, Mothers’ Club Parade, pumpkin bowl, contests, BatArt, stories and games! Oct. 30. Event details.

photo: Lincoln Park Zoo

Spooky Zoo Spectacular at Lincoln Park Zoo

Gourd’-ge yourself on free harvest fun at Lincoln Park Zoo! This free celebration includes a pumpkin walk, live pumpkin carvers, a festive pop-up bar, animals chats, live music and more! Through Oct. 31 Event details.

— Maria Chambers

Featured photo: photo: rawpixels via Pexels

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