Halloween theme makes for seasonal family outings
If you haven't started planning a Halloween costume for yourself or your kids, it's time to start looking, because the ghosts and witches are coming out soon. Lots of towns throughout the suburbs start their spooky celebrations a week early, giving you the chance to take your kids trick-or-treating, play games and get a little scared.
Halloween Boonanza, Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, (847) 490-7015, parkfun.com
Hours: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
Admission: $5 to $7. Free for kids under 1 and parents
Age range: 1 to 14
Kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating through Safety Park, with volunteers at the model fire station, police station and other areas handing out candy. After hitting all the stops, they can walk through a haunted house, take a hayride, do an experiment in mad science or work on Halloween-themed crafts to take home. There also are a juggler, bounce house and carnival games featuring free candy and prizes.
All Hallows Eve, Naper Settlement, 523 S. Weber St., Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.museum
Hours: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25
Admission: $9
Age range: Kids 8 and up
A spookier Halloween celebration, the 19th century-style party brings to life gothic horror characters. You can explore the mummy's tomb, Frankenstein's lab, Dracula's lair, a funhouse and a haunted mansion and graveyard. There's also a seance, a wandering Grim Reaper and face painters. New attractions this year include appearances by Sweeney Todd and The Wolfman, a magic and illusions show and ghost stories around the campfire. Even parents can face their fears with a Cosley Zoo show where you can pet hissing cockroaches, tarantulas, snakes and lizards. Vendors will sell corn dogs, kettle corn and pizza.
Treat the Streets, Downtown Antioch, (847) 838-4032, antioch.il.gov
Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
Admission: Free
Age range: All ages
This first-time event involves about 35 downtown merchants who will have pumpkins in their windows to show they're participating. Each location will hand out candy to trick-or-treaters and many will also have games for candy and prizes, including bean bag toss, ring toss or pin-the-tail-on-the-spine. A magician will also be doing two shows and street magic in between. While the in-store activities wrap up around 5 p.m. you can stick around and check out the free haunted house.
BatFest, Downtown Batavia, (630) 761-3528, downtownbatavia.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
Admission: Free, with $1 for pumpkin roll. A donation of canned food for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry is requested for the tractor pull hayrides. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.
Age range: All ages
When the weather is nice, BatFest has been known to bring 1,000 trick-or-treaters into the downtown area. Downtown businesses will display bat scarecrows which will be voted on at the end of the festival and there's a costume parade at 1 p.m. This year brings a new pumpkin roll competition, where families should bring their own gourd and see how far it will roll. Instead of indulging on too much candy, stop by the farmer's market where you can get fresh apples or apple cider and local organizations will be doing face painting and selling baked goods. The park district will also be running plenty of games at the Riverwalk grassy area and there's a costume contest at 1:30 p.m. with categories including best princess and superhero. IF you need to sit down and relax for a bit stop by the Batavia Public Library for stories at 12:30 p.m. or The Albright Theatre Company's performance of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at 2 or 7 p.m.
Halloween Carnival, Central Elementary School, 23723 Getson Drive, Plainfield, (815) 436-8812, plainfieldparkdistrict.com
Hours: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24
Admission: Free. Games are 50 cents each or three for $1
Age range: 12 and under
Until 7:30 p.m., kids can take tickets around to play the different games, followed by a costume contest. Games include musical dots (like musical chairs but with dots on the floor), a bean bag toss into a giant pumpkin, a basketball shoot, ring toss and croquet where you hit the ball through different Halloween decorations. Each game gives prizes including candy and Halloween items like temporary tattoos and vampire teeth. There's also a haunted house where kids can dig through some slimy spaghetti for a spider ring. The costume contest is divided into kids under 5 and age 6 to 12, with the top three placers getting prizes.
Halloweenfest, Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan, (847) 360-4700, waukeganparks.org
Hours: 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25
Admission: Free
Age range: All ages
Packed with activities, kids are encouraged to come in costume and stroll down the enchanted walk until 5:15 p.m. which turns into the spookier haunted walk at 6 p.m. A haunted house is open from 3 p.m. to 7:45 and the event also includes a giant maze, storyteller, live music from local performers, games, wandering performers, a magic show and train ride. Kids can also win prizes for good costuming and concessions are available all day.