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Halloween Weekend 2023 in Chicago: Trick-or-Treat and More Things To Do with Kids

Halloween weekend 2023 is finally here! Photo by Kate Connealy, courtesy of the Logan Square Halloween Parade Facebook page
Halloween weekend 2023 is finally here! Photo by Kate Connealy, courtesy of the Logan Square Halloween Parade Facebook page
10/25/23 - By Siobhan Adcock

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

Halloween weekend is finally here! With trick-or-treating itself falling on Tuesday, kids have plenty of opportunities to pre-game over the weekend at lots of neighborhood trick-or-treating events. Kids can grab some candy in Norwood Park, Andersonville, Wicker Park, or Lincoln Square, or watch a Halloween parade along Halsted Street, or in Logan Square or Glen Ellyn.

Need more to do for Halloween? Check out our lists of Free Halloween Events in Chicago or Top Halloween Events Near Chicago. Celebrate early with one (or more!) of these Trunk-or-Treat Events, or scope out the Best Trick-or-Treat Neighborhoods in Chicago.

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids 

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Celebrate Día de los Muertos at The National Museum of Mexican Art. Photo by Mary Livoni
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at The National Museum of Mexican Art. Photo by Mary Livoni

Things To Do Halloween Weekend in Chicago 2023

Halloween Extravaganza at Sheridan

Friday, October 27—Near West Side
Sheridan Park hosts a Halloween Extravaganza, where kids can dress up and enjoy treats, a costume contest, a dance contest, face painting, inflatables, and fun.  READ MORE

Family Fall Fest at Park No. 571

Saturday, October 28—Pilsen
Families can enjoy Halloween together at Park No. 571. The event includes a bounce house, crafts, Halloween activities, treats, and more. READ MORE

The Ravinia District Halloween Candy Stroll

Friday, October 27—Highland Park
Enjoy the decorations in the Ravinia business district while children trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Guess the weight of two giant pumpkins to win a $50 gift card to your favorite Ravinia District business. READ MORE

Stars, Spooky Stories, & S'mores

Friday, October 27—River Forest
Kids can enjoy a "spooky" evening of s'mores around a cozy campfire with semi-scary stories in Thatcher Woods. They can also check out a story trail, paint pumpkins, and star gaze. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Near North Neighborhood Trunk or Treat

Saturday, October 28—West Loop
Join Park Community Church for this fun, family-friendly neighborhood event. Have your kids dress up in their costumes and walk through our outdoor parking lot for some fun, games and candy! This event is free and all are welcome! READ MORE

Schaumburg Halloween Carnival

Friday, October 27- Tuesday, October 31—Schaumburg
Schaumburg's Wintrust Field hosts a classic carnival to celebrate Halloween. Families can enjoy rides, treats, arts and crafts, and more for the two weekends leading up to Halloween. In 2023, the new House of Creeps haunted house will be added to the event for an extra fee. The haunted house will also be open on October 30 and 31. READ MORE

Pumpkin Palooza

Saturday, October 28—Naperville
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! READ MORE

Be the Treat! Of Trunk or Treat!

Saturday, October 28—Glen Ellyn
In addition to trunk-or-treating from local businesses, organizations and families, kids can enjoy Halloween music, a bounce house and pumpkins for sale at this Butterfield Park District event. Each child is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Haunts Against Hunger Food Drive. Adults can donate to the Vitalant Blood Drive at this event. READ MORE

Day of the Dead Xicágo

Saturday, October 28—Pilsen
The National Museum of Mexican Art hosts Day of the Dead Xicágo, where families can celebrate Día de los Muertos. Guests can enjoy ofrendas (altars), live musical performances, face painting, art activities, and a large illuminated ofrenda projected outside the museum. READ MORE

Peppa Pig's Adventure in Waukegan

Saturday, October 28—Waukegan
Go on a camping trip with Peppa, George, and their school friends live on stage at Genesee Theater in Waukegan. Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventure full of singing, dancing, games, and surprises. READ MORE

Halloween Hustle

Saturday, October 28—Palatine
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. READ MORE

Trick or Trot 5K and Little Devils Dash 1K

Saturday, October 28—Villa Park
Join the Villa Park Junior Women's Club for a family and costume 5K race or 1K kids dash along the Prairie Path. All proceeds from the race benefit the charities, organizations, and families supported by the club. READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Halloween Spooktacular Festival and Parade

Saturday, October 28—Glen Ellyn
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. READ MORE

MONSTER MASH

Saturday, October 28—Lombard
Put on your Halloween costume and join Yorktown Center for its FREE, family-friendly Monster Mash event on Saturday, October 28 from 10am - 12pm in Center Court!   READ MORE

Norwood Park Business District Trick or Treating

Saturday, October 28—Norwood Park
Trick-or-treat at local businesses on the far northwest side of Chicago. Pick up a bag at the Norwood Park Metra station and follow the Chamber of Commerce's map of participating businesses to fill your bag with sweet treats. READ MORE

NEWCITY Halloween Family Festival

Saturday, October 28—Old Town
Visit NEWCITY for an afternoon of family-friendly fun. Kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, games, prizes, and photo opps on the plaza. READ MORE

Aville-o-Ween

Saturday, October 28—Andersonville
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. READ MORE

Trick or Tunes: A Sensory & Family- Friendly Concert

Saturday, October 28—West Loop
Calling all goblins and ghouls! Get in the Halloween spirit at one of our FREE Trick or Tunes Sensory & Family-Friendly Concerts. Hear Merit's Wind Symphony play all your frightening favorites! Experience a sensory-friendly concert where the audience is encouraged to move and groove to the music, make noise, take breaks, clap along, and more. Earplugs, earmuffs, and fidget toys will be available. READ MORE

WPB Trick-or-Treat

Sunday, October 29—Wicker Park and Bucktown
The chambers of commerce for West Town, Wicker Park, Bucktown, and Logan Square are teaming up for a trick-or-treating event on The Bucktown Green. Businesses may offer candy or store discounts. READ MORE

Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood

Sunday, October 29—Lincoln Square and Ravenswood
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. READ MORE

Logan Square Halloween Parade

Sunday, October 29—Logan Square
March around Logan Square in your Halloween costume! The 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! READ MORE

Blue Man Group Halloween Performance

Saturday, October 28- Sunday, October 29—Lakeview
Blue Man Group Chicago invites visitors to celebrate the spookiest season of the year with two special Halloween-themed performances at the Briar Street Theatre. Each scary-fun performance will feature pre-show face painting in the theater lobby, Halloween-inspired surprises during the show and celebratory goodie bags for all children under age 17. Halloween costumes are encouraged for all audience members. After the performance, audience members will be invited to the theater lobby for photo opportunities with the Blue Men.  READ MORE

Día de Los Muertos Event Catrin y Catrina Contest

Sunday, October 29—Logan Square
Join Luna y Cielo for a día de Los Muertos catrin y catrina contest. Get your faces painted to look like a skeleton to honor those who have passed on. The party will split up the party in two groups and half will play in the play room while the other half will play with the sensory bins and then switch. The last half hour of each session will include the catrin y catrina contest. The winner will receive a maleta of books from ¡Wepa! Libros. READ MORE

Halloween Story Time and Costume Parade at McKinley Library

Monday, October 30—McKinley Park
McKinley Library's Halloween parade is back! Kids can come dressed in their costumes to dance to Halloween music, hear a Halloween story, and enjoy a little trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Halloween Little Squirrels Storytime

Sunday, October 29—Downtown
Join The American Writers Museum for a special family storytime in the Negaunee Foundation Children’s Literature Gallery. Storytellers will be sharing their favorite Halloween books and poems. Story time will be followed by DIY family crafts and games. READ MORE

Halloween Story Time and Costume Parade at McKinley Library

Monday, October 30—McKinley Park
McKinley Library's Halloween parade is back! Kids can come dressed in their costumes to dance to Halloween music, hear a Halloween story, and enjoy a little trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Trick or Treating at Water Tower Place

Tuesday, October 31—Magnificent Mile
You’re Invited to the 1st Ever Halloween Trick or Treating Extravaganza at Water Tower Place! Get ready for a spine-tingling, candy filled adventure as Water Tower Place celebrates Halloween like never before. The fun and spookiness are boundless! READ MORE

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Tuesday, October 31—Lakeview
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. READ MORE

Tricks, Treats & Tunes

Tuesday, October 31—Ravenswood
Make Wilson Avenue between Ravenswood and Hermitage a part of your trick-or-treat route! Access Contemporary Music will have spooky musical performances, $1 coffees and cocoas and treats for the kiddos. Dandelion Art Therapy and Mathnasium will have activities and O’Shaughnessy’s will have $6 spiked ciders. Fin and New Einstein’s will also serve up treats. READ MORE

Halloween Celebration at King Library

Tuesday, October 31—Bronzeville
Join the staff at King Library for stories, games, crafts and treats to celebrate Halloween. Costumes are encouraged! READ MORE
Time to trick-or-treat in Chicago. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Time to trick-or-treat in Chicago. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Other Halloween Activities in and around Chicago

Trunk-or-Treats in Chicago for Halloween 2023

It's time to show off costumes and get candy! READ MORE

Best Places to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in Chicago

We've got the scoop on the neighborhoods serving up the best Halloween candy and family fun in Chicago READ MORE

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

Halloween can get expensive! Luckily, we've got a long list of free Halloween events for kids. READ MORE

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

Your guide to the best Halloween events near Chicago for kids in 2023. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Polar Express Train Ride
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Polar Express Train Ride

Looking Forward to the Holiday Season in Chicago with Kids

The Best Christmas Towns in the Midwest

Shop, visit Santa, and get into the holiday spirit with a trip to one of these idyllic Christmas towns. READ MORE

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near Chicago

Where can you still get Polar Express tickets? Check here. READ MORE

Lego, Star Wars, and More Awesome 2023 Advent Calendars for Kids and Parents, Too!

Toys, wine, slime, and more fun ways to countdown to Christmas. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Ravinia District of Highland Park
Adrenaline Special Events