UniverSoul Circus. Photo by Brett Davis, via Flickr 2.0

Best of October: Halloween, Fall Fests, and More Fun Things To Do in Chicago

Logan Square Halloween Parade. Photo by Kate Connealy

Top Halloween Events in Chicago for Kids and Families: Pumpkins, Trick-or-Treat, Movies, and More

Taste of Chicago, Pullman Park. Photo by Walter S. Mitchell III, City of Chicago

Best Harvest & Pumpkin Festivals in Chicago for Fall Family Fun

Lincoln Park Spooktacular! Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce

Top Free Halloween Events In Chicago: Trick-or-Treating, Free Movies, and More

Just about an hour from Chicago, kids can pick apples at Apple Holler from mid-August to November.

Apple Picking near Chicago: Best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids

GUIDE

Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Chicago Kids

Gobbert's Farm photo by Ryan Dickey via Flickr 2.0

Best Pumpkin Patches Near Chicago for Families

It's apple season! Photo courtesy of Apple Holler Orchard

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 37 Things To Do in Chicago This Fall

Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook

GUIDE

Guide to Free Things To Do in Chicago with Kids

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center

Best Chicago Museums For Kids and Families

St. Louis has tons of kid-friendly things to do. Photo courtesy of the City Museum in St. Louis

Fun Budget Weekend Getaways for Chicago Families

Chicago has so many things to do with little kids. Photo courtesy of Aster Hall, Chicago

25 Things To Do With Little Kids in Chicago Before They Turn 5

An offbeat Chicago museum makes a fun outing for teenagers. Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum

Chicago's Best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out

The Skydeck at Willis Tower has spectacular views spanning four states.

100 Best Things To Do in Chicago with Kids Before They Grow Up

State parks near Chicago offer more than just hiking. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

State Parks Near Chicago to Hike, Camp, and Swim with Kids

There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Canva

Best Places to Hike with Kids Near Chicago

Stroller hikes make it easier to get outside with babies and toddlers. Photo courtesy of the Morton Arboretum

Best Stroller-Friendly Hikes and Trails Near Chicago

GUIDE

Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Chicago Kids

Photo courtesy of Enterrium in Schaumburg

Themed Restaurants in Chicago for Family-Friendly Interactive Dining

Obstacle courses and climbing gyms provide indoor fun for big kids. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders

Best Ninja Warrior Gyms and Climbing Gyms in Chicago for Kids

The Chicago Skydeck offers kids a great view of the city. Photo courtesy of the 360 Chicago Skydeck

3 Days in Chicago with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

GUIDE

Guide to Free Things To Do in Chicago with Kids

Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. Photo by @zoblue, Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Garfield Park Conservatory with Kids: Best Things to See and Do

Happy Kids Chicago offers some of your kid's favorite characters as birthday party entertainers.

The Ultimate List of Chicago Children's Birthday Party Entertainers and Rentals

There are plenty of fishing lakes in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District

Fishing Lakes Near Chicago and More Kid-Friendly Places To Go Fishing

Photo courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry

Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Chicago

Pancakes served all day long in Chicago's West Loop! Photo courtesy of The Little Goat, Facebook

Things to do with Kids in Chicago's West Loop

The kid's stage at the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest. Photo courtesy of the event.

Oktoberfests, Halloween Happnenings, and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

Oktoberfest in Chicago: The Best Oktoberfests for Families in Chicago

Dad and son at Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of St. Benedict's Oktoberfest

10/4/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Step aside, pumpkin spice latte. It's time to celebrate fall with the original autumn beverage: Oktoberfest beer! And luckily for us Chicagoans, the Bavarian tradition is strong and there are lots of Oktoberfests in Chicago to help you celebrate.

Like the original Oktoberfest, these local festivities have live music, carnival games, and other fun and family-friendly activities, and as a bonus, most are free (minus food and drinks) or super affordable to attend. Look out for Oktoberfests in traditional German neighborhoods and suburbs like Lincoln Square and Schaumburg, and feel free to don the traditional Bavarian garb—you won't be the only one! And of course, don't forget to snag a pretzel or two.

Even if you miss these Chicago Oktoberfests, there are plenty of fun beer gardens and breweries you can visit with children. And there are dozens of kid-friendly fall festivals happening across the Chicago area.