Halloween happenings in DuPage County
How do you celebrate Halloween during a pandemic? Although social distancing makes it more challenging, there are still many events throughout the suburbs that promise spooky - and safe - fun.
Due to the resurgence of coronavirus in DuPage and Will counties, we recommend confirming events in advance.
Ongoing
Bensenville Halloween displays: Get a map of neighborhood homes that go all out for the holidays - especially for Halloween. This Halloween, local families have put so much effort into their Halloween displays for us all to safely enjoy. Take a tour in your car to check out some of these spooky houses courtesy of your Bensenville neighbors. For a map, visit bensenville.il.us.
Carol Stream Halloween Decorating Contest: Contest judging will be completed by Friday, Oct. 30. Nominations can be submitted until Friday, Oct. 23. For information, visit carolstream.org and follow the village on social media for updates.
Cosley Zoo Pumpkin Fest: daily through Oct. 31 at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Enjoy the colors of the season, see the animals, and pick out your pumpkins. Gourds, pumpkins, apples, cider, corn stalks, and straw bales available for purchase. You must reserve a ticket; walk-up tickets not available. Face coverings and social distancing required. Regular admission rates apply. cosleyzoo.org.
Lisle Park District's Pumpkin Carving Contest: By Saturday, Oct. 31. Once carved, take a picture of your pumpkin, as well as one of you with your pumpkin. Email both pictures to Erica at ewise@lisleparkdistrict.org by Saturday, Oct. 31. A panel of experts will judge all entries and winners will be chosen. Prizes will be awarded in each age group. Cost is $10 per entry. Register at lisleparkdistrict.org.
West Chicago Pumpkin Decorating Contest: Vote for your favorite the week of Oct. 26. One winner will be chosen per age category: 7 and under, 8-12, 13-17, and family/adult. It will be a public vote for the winner. Follow the West Chicago Halloween Festivities Facebook page for updates.
Brookfield Zoo Dinos Everywhere!: Closes Nov. 1. Featuring more than 40 animatronic dinosaurs across the entire zoo. Did you know Brookfield Zoo is an accredited arboretum? Come see the blazing oranges, reds and yellows in the changing fall foliage. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes to the park in celebration of the Halloween season. Each week, the zoo will give away prizes to guests who snap a selfie at one of the selfie stations and share it on social media with the hashtag #BrookfieldZoo. Participating guests will be entered to win special bonus prizes. Admission is $17.95 to $24.95; prices vary. For information, visit www.czs.org/fallatbrookfieldzoo.
Disturbia Haunted House: Thursdays to Sundays, to Oct. 31 at 1213 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove. Relive your darkest nightmares and experience all new evils, presented by Basement of the Dead. Limited capacity; face masks and social distancing required. Online tickets only at hauntedhousedisturbia.com.
Glen Ellyn's Scarecrow Rows: Through Oct. 31 in downtown Glen Ellyn. See the handmade scarecrows created by Scout troops, community members, local businesses, and nonprofits, as well as the storefronts with decorated windows. Follow the one-way route, come wearing a mask and remain socially distant between groups. No tickets needed. Maps available from all sponsoring businesses and online. The route will start near Barone's Restaurant, 475 Pennsylvania Ave., and end near Blackberry Market, 401 N. Main St. Free parking is available at the village's "Park by the Path" program. Visit www.GlenEllynChamber.com/Halloween and www.facebook.com/GlenEllynChamberofCommerce/.
Pumpkin Daze: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays at Abbey Farms, 2855 Hart Road in Aurora. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is $17 on weekends and holidays and $12 on weekdays. Kids age 2 and under are free. The last park entry is one hour before close. No night maze this year. The Farmstead Emporium Store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; no charge to enter the store and face masks required. Pumpkins are $2.99 for mini, and all regular size orange pumpkins are $7.99. All specialty (other colors) are $12.99. Limited attendance in the park and store. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Beer and wine tent opens at noon. Listen to live music from local artists on weekend afternoons or sleuth your way through one of the largest area corn mazes. Petting zoo on the weekends. Take a visit with a trip to the pumpkin field filled with Abbey Farms grown pumpkins ready for carving! Visit abbeyfarms.org.
Fox Valley Mall Virtual Haunted House: Through Halloween. A free, interactive visit through spooky rooms from the safety of their own homes. Bonus: Make it through the haunted house to access additional free Halloween virtual activities. The haunted house can be accessed here: hauntedhouse.mallmedia.net/m/foxvalley. Visit www.shopfoxvalleymall.com/events/.
Basement of the Dead House: Wednesdays to Sundays, to Nov. 1, at 42 W. New York St., Aurora. Relive your darkest nightmares and experience all new evils, presented by Basement of the Dead. Limited capacity; face masks and social distancing required. Online tickets only at basementofthedead.com.
"Super Stolie's Halloween Daydreams": Through Tuesday, Nov. 3 with Helen M. Plum Memorial Public Library in Lombard. Super Stolie's popular Halloween show is coming to a screen near you - right in your home! You're invited on a musical adventure that celebrates all the fun things that go along with one of our favorite holidays! No registration required. Visit helenplum.org.
Sugar Skull City: Through Nov. 15 and with Day of the Dead events during First Fridays on Nov. 6 in downtown Aurora. Sugar Skull City is a monthlong event for all ages with virtual, crowd-free, and self-guided, in person activities that respect both COVID-19 state guidelines and an honored cultural and local tradition. Find sugar skull art in store windows, participate in a downtown scavenger hunt and online activities, visit businesses throughout the month for Day of the Dead merchandise and specials, watch educational videos, and more. Find out more at sugarskullcity.com.
Friday, Oct. 23
"Edgar Allan Poe - Spooky Stories from the Schoolhouse": 9 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23 with Elmhurst History Museum. On a dark and stormy night, conjure up Halloween spirit at the historic Churchville Schoolhouse through readings of Edgar Allan Poe's scariest works. Gather some fearless friends and tune in online as Elmhurst History Museum staff members tap into creepy classics like "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Raven," and more. Program link will be available online through Nov. 30. Visit elmhursthistory.org.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Downers Grove Park District Pumpkin Patch: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Lyman Woods, 901 31st St. Get some hands-on pumpkin play! Explore pumpkins inside and out, make a pumpkin project, play some pumpkin games, and take your own pumpkin home with the Cost is $12. Parents must accompany children. Sign up at dgparks.org.
Fun Fall Family Day: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with merchants along Water Street in downtown Naperville. Children under age 12 are invited to visit the no-contact "pumpkin patch" as the Foyo Plaza on Water Street will be lined with various sized pumpkins to choose from for free. Street chalk artist and muralist Nate Baranowski will be creating a fall themed 3-D chalk painting on the plaza for families to "jump into" to take interactive photos. Free kids alpine hats are available at London Skye, 120 Water St., Suite 104. Balloon twisting, a clown and stilt-walker will stroll the street throughout the afternoon to add to the fun. Masks and distancing will be observed. Visit waterstreetnaperville.com.
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25
"The Tales of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel": 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24, and 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at 11-13 S. Water Street Mall in Aurora. This is a free, outdoor event by Riverfront Playhouse. (Social distancing will be followed. Please wear a mask.) Reservations suggested at info@riverfrontplayhouse.com.
Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31 and Sunday, Oct. 25
Fall Family Fun at the Greene Barn: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, and Sunday, Oct. 25. The classic American red barn at 23W171Hobson Road in Naperville will be staged with straw bales for family fun and photos through Oct. 31. Park in the Greene Valley Forest Preserve Greene Road parking lot or park at the northern end behind the barn. Participants are invited to share their photos to the Greene Barn's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theGreeneBarn and can tag them #TheGreeneBarn.
By Monday, Oct. 26
McAninch Arts Center Virtual Halloween Costume Pageant and Contest: The virtual costume pageant will be broadcast on www.facebook.com/atthemac beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 30, and available for viewing throughout Halloween weekend. The contest is open to children ages 3-11 as well as pets in DuPage County and features a variety of prizes. Those wishing to enter should send a 10-20 second video of their child or pet in their Halloween costume. For their videos, child entrants should, in the spirit of their costume character, say "Hello!" or "Trick or Treat!" (or a greeting of their choice) directed to viewers. Contestants will be judged on costume originality and video greeting. Entries must be received by Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. at AtTheMAC.org/Events/Costume-Pageant. Entries will be judged on costume originality and video greeting. The parade will be available for viewing on the MAC's Facebook page beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 30. Parade viewers can help the MAC decide the winners by mentioning their favorite contestants in the comments. The winners will be announced on the MAC's Facebook page at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
I Spy Ghost Hunt: Oct. 27-Nov. 1 at various parks in Warrenville Park District. The ghosts have invaded the parks and they need your help! Get a clue sheet by Oct. 26. Everyone one in the family is welcome to register. Once you find the ghosts and submit your answers/photo, you will be notified to pick up your Halloween treat including taffy apples and other prizes. Register at warrenvilleparks.org.
By Tuesday, Oct. 27
Halloween House Decorating Contest: Warrenville Park District is looking for the best Halloween decorated homes to compete for awards and bragging rights. A park district contest committee will judge the entries Oct. 28-29. Free; deadline to register is Oct. 27. Categories: Spookiest, Most Creative, Best Theme, Best Kid Friendly with $50 Target gift card for each category winner. Winners will be announced on Oct. 30. Register at (630) 393-7279 or www.warrenvilleparks.org.
Friday, Oct. 30
Trunk or Treat: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Bloomingdale Court parking lot, 364 W. Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale. Rotary Club of Bloomingdale-Roselle hosts this socially distanced event with treats. New this year - you and the family will stay in the car. The kids will get a treat bag filled with goodies from our sponsors and participants. Indicate how many children will need a treat bag when you register. Costumes are encouraged! Register via EventBrite.com.
Fall Fest Boo-to-You Parade: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Warrenville Park District invites families to dress up in costumes and assemble in their yard. The Warrenville Park District will parade by with costumed characters, candy and music. They will follow the same parade route as the Summertime Stroll, but in reverse. For the parade map, visit warrenvilleparks.org.
Candy Carnival: 3:30 to 7:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Centennial Gym in Addison. Kids 10 years of age and younger are invited for a night of Halloween fun. There are a variety of games to play with treats for prizes and each person will receive an extra treat for coming in costume. Children must be accompanied by an adult during this event. Register at addisonparks.org.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Trunk-or-Treat Festival: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Mall of India, Route 59 in Naperville. Collect ghoulish goodies trunk-or-treating, win frighteningly fun raffle prizes, and enjoy many kid-friendly activities. All ages welcome. Refreshments available. Parents must register in advance and remain at the event. Wear a face mask at this outdoor event. Register via EventBrite.com.
Naperville Hauntings ghost walk tour: Saturday, Oct. 31. Tours depart at 8 p.m. from outside Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville. For fright fans ages 8 or older. The ghost walk tours with Ursula Bielski take place entirely outdoors on a stroll through Naperville's Historic District. Tour sizes are restricted to a maximum of 19 people under social distancing guidelines and face masks are required. Tickets are $19, $15 for children ages 8 to 12, or $15 for seniors or military with ID. For the full Chicago Hauntings schedule and to get tickets, visit ChicagoHauntings.com/Naperville-Hauntings-Ghost-Walks.
Sunday, Nov. 1
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave. in Glendale Heights. McAninch Arts Center hosts a drive-by ofrendas and music by the acclaimed Mariachi Monumental de México and a drop-off food collection to benefit Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. Drive by Camera Park and pay your respects to two ofrendas - altars consisting of offerings made to welcome those who have passed - dedicated to Frida Kahlo and the victims of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Upon arrival at the park, guests will be greeted with traditional mariachi music and directed to the ofrendas, as well as locations where they can drop off their donation items. Everyone donating a nonperishable food item will receive candy treats. Suggested nonperishable food items include rice, dry beans, bread, tortillas, eggs, potatoes, salt, flour, masa, pasta, cereal, canned tomatoes, oil, canned soup, sugar, onions, garlic, and mac & cheese. Donate diapers and baby wipes for the Latino community in DuPage County. Visit www.atthemac.org or www.facebook.com/AtTheMAC.