Tri-Cities get into spirit with these Halloween events
From family fun to terrifying haunted houses, check out these Halloween events in the Tri-Cities.
Aurora
All Hallow's Eve: Join “All Hallow's Eve” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora. Cost is $4.50 for residents or $7 for nonresidents. Visit Blackberry Farm for an evening of spooky fun for the whole family. Enjoy spine chilling stories, vintage Halloween games and a magic show. Take a turn around Lake “Ghoul-gory” on the train and wagon, too. For all ages, but does include some scary elements. For details, call (630) 892-1550 or visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Mystery dinner theater: The Fox Valley Park District's Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre will present “Killer Family Reunion” on Friday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. Each of the four shows, for ages 13 and older, will feature new endings. Tickets are $19. Tickets are available at Prisco Community Center or online at seatyourself.biz/foxvalleyparkdistrict. Registration ends at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. For details, call (630) 892-1550 or visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Halloween Family Fun Night: The Fox Valley Park District will celebrate the Halloween season from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. Featuring wacky games, creepy crafts and trick-or-treating. Come dressed in Halloween costumes. Brave participants can buy a $1 ticket for the haunted house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Space is limited. The fee is $5 for residents or $8 for nonresidents; one adult free for every child. Register by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. An added feature is the Haunted House (ages 10 and older) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with candy prizes for those brave enough to make it all the way through. Haunted House tickets are $1 each and may be purchased in advance or at the door. Walk-ups for the Haunted House are permitted. For information, call (630) 859-8606 or visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Trunk or Treat: Bring your ninjas and princesses of all ages to “Trick-or-Trunk” from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the parking lot at Faith Lutheran Church, 3000 Liberty St. in Aurora. Free. Visit discoveringfaith.com.
Batavia
BatFest: BatFest will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Batavia Riverwalk. It includes downtown trick-or-treating from 10 a.m. to noon, pumpkin roll, contests, BatArt and games for free family fun. Join in the Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest, Marshmallow Shooter Range, photo booth and games hosted by River City Church, and 3-D pumpkin carvings by Fallen Star Tattoo. Batavia Academy of Dance performing “Monster Mash” at 11 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Music Matters, 24 N. Washington Ave., will offer a Fall Festival featuring a petting zoo, train rides, arts and crafts, live music and a raffle. The Batavia Public Library will offer “BatFest Stories and Songs” at 11:15 a.m. The Batavia Mothers' Club Parade will step off at 11:45 a.m. The Music Matters costume contest will be at 12:15 p.m. The Water Street Studios pumpkin carving battle will be at 1 p.m. Then the Batavia Academy of Dance will return to the main stage performing “Thriller” at 1:45 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 6 will host their annual Pumpkin Roll down Houston Street by the Depot Museum. Cost is $1 per roll. Bring your own pumpkin or purchase a pumpkin from Troop 6. From noon to 2 p.m., take a tractor-pulled hayride. In the evening, stop by the park district's Haunted Quarry at 7 p.m. Visit www.downtownbatavia.com/batfest.
Haunted Quarry: The Batavia Park District's Haunted Quarry will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 17-25, at Quarry Beach, 400 S. Water St. It is not suitable for kids under age 10. Tickets are $8 per ticket. Advanced ticket purchase is $6, available through Oct. 16 only. Cash only will be accepted at the gate. For details, call (630) 879-5235 or visit www.bataviaparks.org.
Haunted house: Scary Sciba & Scaren Karen's House of Horrors will be open for three nights of terror from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 25, and Friday, Oct. 31, at 404 Walnut St. in Batavia. The theatrical haunted house features demons, witches, black lights, fog machines, severed heads, body parts, chain saws, strobe lights, and general creatures of the night to make your skin crawl with dread. A $5 donation is requested per person. Kids under age 12 are welcome, but only when accompanied by an adult. A less scary version (lights on) is provided if requested by party. Find it on Facebook.
Elgin
Haunted Hike: When the sun fades, zombies will roam the trails at the Three Fires Boy Scout Council's 24th annual Haunted Hike from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 17 and 24; and 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25, at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. Scouts in uniform can enter for $8; all others pay a $10 entry fee. From 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25, a Kiddie Hike will be available; entry is $8 per person. Visit threefirescouncil.org.
An Evening with Poe: Side Street Studio Arts invites you to “An Evening with Poe” at 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Next Door Theater, 15½ Ziegler Court in Elgin. Area artists performing live readings of some of Edgar Allen Poe's most enduring, mysterious, and romantic writing. There is a $10 suggested donation for each performance. For details, call (847) 429-2276 or visit www.sidestreetstudioarts.org.
Geneva
Howl 'o Ween Dog Parade: Peck Farm Park's annual Howl 'o Ween Dog Parade will be Saturday, Oct. 25, at 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Prizes will be awarded. This free parade for all ages begins promptly at 1:30 p.m. Visit genevaparks.org.
Halloween Hayday: Celebrate Halloween with your family and the Geneva Park District at the annual Halloween Hayday on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stephen D. Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Road. Children ages 10 and under will enjoy, hay rides, a children's carnival, cosmic cake walks, costume contests, bounce houses, and more. Preregistration is recommended. Adults receive free admission. Preregistration cost is $5 per child ($8 nonresident), and at-the-door admission is $7 per child ($10 non-resident). Halloween Hayday is sponsored by Geneva Bank & Trust. For information, call (630) 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.
Geneva Ghost Walk: Take a guided walking tours of haunted Geneva in “Ghost Walks” on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 2, 4, 6, and 8 p.m. All tours will begin at the Geneva History Museum, 113 S. Third St. and will take about an hour. New stories and old legends will bring the darker corners of Geneva to light. The tours will go rain or shine and are limited to 30 people per tour. Reservations are $10 or $5 for museum members. For details, call (630) 232-4951 or visit www.genevahistorycenter.org.
Zombie Apocalypse: Join Geneva Park District's annual Zombie Apocalypse from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Wheeler Park, off Route 31 in Geneva. Participants will be divided into groups of 10-15 people and led by a trained guide to navigate the land of the undead by utilizing various supplies at designated “safe zones.” Each group will begin their journey every 5 minutes. Join the family-friendly version for age 10 and younger from 5 to 6 p.m. Let the real apocalypse begin from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Suggested for those 11 and older. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for running through the course. Space is limited, be sure to register early. The fee before Oct. 24 is $9 or $14 for nonresidents. On-site registration is $10, $15 for nonresidents. Antonio's Pizza and hot cocoa will be available for purchase. Visit genevaparks.org.
South Elgin
Pumpkin Trolley/Ghost Story Train: The Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. La Fox St. (Route 31) in South Elgin, invites the family out to the “Pumpkin Trolley” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 18-26. Pick out your own pumpkins in the Coleman Yard pumpkin patch for $2 per pumpkin. Fares are $4, $3 for seniors, 65 and older, $2 for children 3-11; kids under 3 ride free.
Tickets also are available for the museum's popular “Ghost Story Trains” on Oct. 18 and 25, at 5, 6:15 and 7:45 p.m. “Ghost Story Train” tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.foxtrolley.org for $13.20 apiece, including handling.
For details, call the museum at (847) 697-4676. Visit www.foxtrolley.org.
St. Charles
KC Scaregrounds: The fourth annual KC Scaregrounds, a fundraiser for Steel Beam Theatre, runs Friday and Saturday evenings through Oct. 25 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., with monster-free viewings Sundays, Oct. 19, and 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. Each year the enclosed darkened maze, with 3-D painted artwork and real “monsters” terrify haunted house goers. The experience includes eerie music and theatrical lighting effects. The high quality artwork was designed and executed by the Disney artist who created the Haunted Mansion interiors, made even spookier as participants are provided 3-D glasses. General admission is $15 for age 13 and older. Admission for the Monster-Free viewing is $5 for kids (under 12) and $10 for adults. Children in costume receive a special treat! Added “spooky” attractions especially for the little ones. Purchase tickets at the door or visit www.kcscaregrounds.com.
Zombie Run: Join in the second annual Zombie Run at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Primrose Farm, 5N576 Crane Road in St. Charles. Take a Zombie family fun run and walk along the trails of Primrose Farm. Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded so be creative. Fee per person is $25 for residents; $38 per person nonresidents. To register, visit www.stcparks.org.
Acosta's Haunted House: Acosta's Haunted House will be open from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 10 to Oct. 25, at 38W207 Oak Drive in St. Charles. Admission is $5. All proceeds go to the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. Acosta's Haunted House is a home haunt that started in 2009. The Acosta family decorates the inside of the home, the yard, a forested area and garage. There are approximately 20-30 volunteer actors that perform during the six nights that the haunted house is open. The small family haunt has now grown substantially in its 5 years and is visited by thousands each year. The haunt is not recommended for children under the age of 10 (although a “no scare” tour can be given) as there are many scenes of violence and gore displayed. For details, visit www.facebook.com/acostashaunt.
Gallery of Ghoulish Homes: The annual Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour is held Oct. 17-31. Pack up the family for an evening cruise to see some of the spookiest houses in the St. Charles community. A guided tour is available online. Homes best viewed at dusk. Visit www.stcparks.org.
“The Ghosts of Mary Todd Lincoln”: See “The Ghosts of Mary Todd Lincoln” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles. Mary Todd Lincoln's tortured life comes to the historic stage of the Arcada Theatre in the one-woman play by Michele Tauber. For information or to order tickets, call (630) 962-7000 or visit www.oshows.com.
Sugar Grove
Halloween Fest: Bring the family to Halloween Fest from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Plowman's Park, 48W508 Hinckley Road, Big Rock. It is a free family event. There will be a haunted house, an interactive kiddie haunted house, stage shows, clowns, face painting, magicians, jugglers, haunted hayrides, bounce houses and games with a prize every time. Children (and adults) can make their own scarecrows and crafts. There is a costume parade along with a pumpkin carving contest. All activities are free. There also will be a child ID service free for parents. For an extra cost, they will be dinner, baked goods and raffle tickets. The Halloween Fest is sponsored by Big Rock, Hinckley and Sugar Grove. The fest runs strictly on donations and volunteers. Visit www.halloween-fest.com.
Union
Terror on the Railroad: The eighth annual event features three haunts in one location, the Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road. Check out Cirque de Decay, the Train of Chills, and take a ride through the darkness on the possessed Screamliner. For ages 13 and older. Open 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 17-25. Tickets must be ordered online. Call (815) 347-3394 or visit www.terrorontherailroad.com. On Oct. 25-26, the museum will hold its “Trick or Treat Trolley” for kids in costume.