Northwest suburbs Halloween events

The Northwest suburbs are brimming with Halloween-related activities Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31. Some are good for adults, too!

Friday, Oct. 30

Wheeling BOO-nanza: 1-3 p.m. at Wheeling Park District Recreation Center, 333 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. For preschool-5th graders. Pumpkin decorating, costume parade, candy hunt, pumpkin shoot, movie. Parents must accompany children. Free. (847) 465-7673; wheelingparkdistrict.com.

Arlington Hts. Downtown Trick or Treat: 3-6 p.m. at participating stores in the downtown area. Children are encouraged to dress in costumes, and must be accompanied by an adult.

Bartlett seniors Halloween party: 3 p.m. at Victory Centre of Bartlett, 1101 W. Bartlett Road. Happy-hour costume party with Bob Kurtz on piano. To register, (630) 213-0100.

Haunted Mystery Tour: 4:30-10 p.m., at Olympic Swim Center, 660 N. Ridge Road, Arlington Heights. For ages 10-14. A trip to Enchanted Castle and the Jaycees Haunted House in Lombard; Haunted house, miniature gold, go-kart rides, laser tag, pizza. Parents who would like to attend, call Matt Healy at (847) 577-3040. $45. (847) 577-3000 or ahpd.org.

Elk Grove Village Halloween Fest: 5-7:30 p.m. at Elk Grove Park District Pavilion, 1000 Wellington Ave. Hot dog meal, stories, games, family costume parade, pumpkin decorating, crafts, hayride. $10 per child; $8 adults at the door. (847) 437-9494 or elkgroveparks.org.

Spooktacular Hayride: 6-9:30 p.m. at Randall Oaks Park, 17N350 Randall Road, West Dundee. Suitable for all ages. Visit Creepy Hollow and other scenes; concessions available. $5 per person; $4 with one canned food item. Tickets available the day of the hayride only. (847) 428-7131; dtpd.org.

Haunted house: Meet 6:30 p.m. at St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, for a trip to a haunted house, "Scream Scene" at Oakton Park in Skokie. For 10 and up. $10, with free McDonald's afterward. (847) 998-1946 or stphilip.info.

Ghost stories: Two shows at Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg: 7 p.m. for children; 9 p.m. for teens and adults. $10; $5 for students/seniors. Storyteller Dan Keding is well known for his telling of traditional world folktales, his boyhood in Chicago, ghost stories and dark tales, and superbly crafted original pieces. (847) 895-3600. prairiecenter.org.

Teen Late Night Halloween Bash: 7-8:30 p.m. at Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Traditional Halloween fun with a vampire twist; wear costumes, win prizes, eat treats, and play games including Twilight Trivia. Register, (847) 459-4100; indiantrailslibrary.org.

Spooky "Sleepy Hollow": Hear "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving read aloud, 7:15-8:15 p.m. at the Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane. Refreshments follow. Free tickets at the Youth Services Desk. (847) 259-6050, ext. 140.

Illinois Brass Band Halloween concert: 8 p.m. at Cutting Hall, Palatine. "Music to Summon the Spirits," featuring works from "Harry Potter," "The Planets," "The Temple of Doom," "Thriller," "Mephistopheles." Costumes encouraged. $10 adults; $5 children 12-under. Tickets: (847) 202-5222; illinoisbrassband.org.

Saturday, Oct. 31

Bartlett Halloween Fun Fest: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. starting with 10 a.m. costume parade downtown; treats, games, prizes and more. Parade starts at Village Hall, 228 S. Main St., north to Railroad Avenue, west to Western Avenue. A Treasure Map at Village Hall and participating businesses points to 20 locations where children in costume can trick or treat. Halloween dance at 11 a.m. at Banbury Fair; the "Legend of Hawk Hollow" noon storytelling at the Bartlett History Museum; local businesses have special events and giveaways. artsinbartlett.org.

Hoffman Estates Halloween Bash: 10-11:30 a.m. at the Hoffman Estates Park District Community Center & Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road. Come in costume for pumpkin decorating, Halloween games, crafts, snacks. All children attending must register.

Spooky Skating Special: At Central Community Center, 1000 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect. $1 off regular fee. Costumes encouraged.

Palatine Halloween party: Ages 1-10; 10 a.m.-noon at the Community Center, 250 E. Wood St. Palatine. Games, goodies, crafts, puppet show, Jim Nesci and his coldblooded creatures. $5-$7. (847) 991-0333; palatineparks.org.

Park Ridge Farmers Market: 10 a.m.-noon, Prairie and Garden streets, Park Ridge. Halloween party with pumpkin painting, balloon toys, trick-or-treat bags, vendors and Halloween goodies.

Trinity Lutheran Halloween party: Ages 3-fifth grade; 10 a.m.-noon at Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Games, treats, crafts and ghostly surprises. Dress in costume. Admission is a bag of treats. All preschoolers must be accompanied by a parent.

Scary Silly Stories: 11-11:45 a.m. at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave. Chris Fascione acts out fun and family-friendly Halloween stories for all ages. Register, (847) 392-0100 or ahml.info.

Halloween Opera Spooktacular: Opera in Focus, the puppet opera company at the Rolling Meadows Park District Theater, 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows, presents the cathedral scene from "Faust," the clock scene from "Boris Godunov" and expanded editions of "Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Masquerade" and "Point of No Return" from "Phantom of the Opera," today, Sunday and other dates through Nov. 8. Performances are 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 4 p.m. Wednesdays. $12 adults; $11 seniors over 60; $7 children under 12. (847) 818-3220, ext. 186.

Trick or Treat at Victory Centre: 3-7 p.m., bring your children to trick or treat at the Bartlett Victory Centre, 1101 W. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. (630) 213-0100.

Metropolis Youth Symphony Halloween concert: 3 p.m. at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Come in costume. $10. (847) 577-2121; metropolisarts.com.

Streamwood Safety Town trick or treat: 3-4:30 p.m. at Streamwood Safety Town, 700 W. Irving Park Road. Each of the 13 Safety Town buildings will pass out treats. No registration. Free. (630) 372-PARK.

"Trunk-or-Treat": 5-8 p.m. at Meadows Baptist Church, 2401 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. The parking lot will be filled with decorated cars and trucks for children to have a safe trick or treat environment. Games, food, candy and more.

Schaumburg BOO-nanza: 6-9 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth, Schaumburg. For ages 1-14; hay rides, prizes, candy, crafts, trick-or-treat in Safety Park, games, entertainment, moonwalk. $6. Register, (847) 490-7020.

Bartlett Lions Night Parade: Lions Club Sight Night Illuminated Halloween Parade, 7:30 p.m. Parade entries step off from the new Metra parking lot area and proceed down the darkened streets of downtown Bartlett. Everyone welcome: Costumed walkers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, golf carts, go-karts, cars, trucks or trailers. Bring old pairs of eyeglasses to donate.

Nov. 1

Chili cook-off, Trunk-or-Treat: Trunk-or-Treat at 4 p.m.; chili cook-off at 5 p.m. at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect. Children invited to "trunk or treat" in the parking lot before cook-off. Chili, hot dogs, nachos and desserts; tickets at the door, $1.50, all you can eat chili; nachos and hot dogs $1. (847) 259-3090 or mail@christianlifechurch.org.

Both days

"Day of the Dead" at Des Plaines History Center: Student-created display fills History Center walls and display cases through Nov. 20. Paper skeletons, coffin toys, miniature graveyards, drawings, tombstones, and an ofrenda (alter) are all part of the exhibit. Seventh and eighth graders from Algonquin, Chippewa and Iroquois Community School did the projects as assignments in their Spanish language classes. Free. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday. (847) 391-5399 ordesplaineshistory.org.

Didier Farms Pumpkin Festival: Through Oct. 31 at Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road, Prairie View. Petting zoo, carnival rides, horse-drawn hayrides, pumpkin patch, games, baby chicks and piglets, food and family activities. Weekday and weekend hours and prices vary. (847) 634-3291 or didierfarms.com.

"The Magic Ofrenda:" Best for grades K-6, at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. To celebrate El Día de los Muertos, young Anjelita visits her Grandpa Juan in Mexico, who tells Anjelita and her brother all about this celebration honoring loved ones who are no longer living. Along the way, Anjelita meets painter Frida Kahlo and lots of singing, fun-loving spirits who help her learn about her Mexican heritage. Shows on Oct. 30, 31. $12; 12-under $9.50. For times, (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Goebbert's Fall Family Festival: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center, 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Pony, camel and hay rides; petting zoo; haunted house; pig racing; cornstalk maze; cafe; sweet shop; gift shop; kettle corn, roasted corn, fall harvest market and pumpkins. Free, cost for some activities. (847) 428-6727.

Haunted House at Paulus Park: 7:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 30-31, at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Features a two-story maze that youngsters trick-or-treat through. For ages 10 and older. $8. A children's matinee is noon-2 p.m. Saturday; admission $3 per person. Visit volz.org/hauntedhouse. (847) 540-5075.

Goebbert's Fall Family Festival: Through Oct. 31 at Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center, 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Pony, camel and hay rides; petting zoo; haunted house; pig racing; cornstalk maze; cafe; sweet shop; gift shop; kettle corn, roasted corn, fall harvest market and pumpkins. Free, cost for some activities. (847) 428-6727.