Festivals Oct. 11-17: Glass Pumpkin Patch, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns and more
Friday, Oct. 11
Glass Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 11-13, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Shop from over 7,000 one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins and watch glassblowing demonstrations at the 14th annual event. Rain or shine. Presale viewing from 10-11 a.m. Friday. $12-$17. Register: mortonarb.org.
Scarecrow Fest: Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in downtown St. Charles. 39th annual fest features over 110 handcrafted scarecrows on display around town for visitors to vote on their favorites. Family Zone features music, dance teams, magic shows and more in Lincoln Park. Activity Zone includes photo ops, Scarecrow-to-Go and family activities at Riverside Avenue. Autumn on the Fox Arts & Crafts Show at Pottawatomie Park. Music at Lincoln Park: The Collective at 3:30 p.m. Friday; Leslie Hunt and the Hunt House Showcase at 2:30 p.m. Saturday; and Hillbilly Rockstarz at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Music at 1st Street Plaza: Paul & Jay at 4 p.m. Friday; The Frizz at 3 p.m. Saturday; and Nicole Devine at 3 p.m. Sunday. Free. scarecrowfest.com.
Halloween Happening: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard St., Wheaton. Games, crafts, bounce house, Touch-a-Truck, Candyland Trail, sensory tables, food trucks and more. Costumes encouraged. Fun pass: $25 residents, $30 nonresidents; VIP Fun Pass for early access is $35-$40. Prices increase the day of the event. Register at wheatonparkdistrict.com.
St. John Cemetery History Walk: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at St. John Cemetery, Winfield. Winfield Historical Society volunteers will tell the story of people who lived during the historic early years of the village. Lanterns and luminaries will light the path through one of the oldest cemeteries in DuPage County. The park district van leaves for the cemetery tours from the Hedges Station Museum at Oakwood Park, 0N557 Winfield Road, every 10 minutes, with the last group at 8 p.m. Bring a flashlight. Kids 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Free; donations appreciated. winfieldhistory.org.
Silent Parade: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, starting in Hinsdale and traveling west on Chicago Avenue through Westmont, then on Naperville Road and ending in Lisle. Dedicated to firefighters and other who have lost their lives due to fires. Free. westmont.illinois.gov.
Lumenaura Fest Weekend: Friday through Sunday, Oct. 11-13, along Aurora's downtown riverfront. The interactive and multisensory entertainment features large-scale projection art, custom art installations, dancers, jugglers, musicians, sideshow performers, scavenger hunts, light painting, virtual reality drone flights and hidden portal discovery quests. Main stage entertainment: Vibe Music at 6 p.m., Wild Card aerialists/acrobats and DJs at 7:45 p.m. and electronic dancer Charlie Otto at 8:30 p.m. Friday; Chicha Roots at 6 p.m., Raks Inferno fire dancers and jugglers and DJs at 7:45 p.m. and Grateful Dead tribute Terrapin Flyer at 8:15 p.m. Saturday; and DJ Crew, led by Sarah Hartman of R34L, at 6 and 8 p.m., and a lighted drone display at 7:45 p.m. Sunday. yourvoice.aurora.il.us/lumenaura.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Mummy Mile Fun Run: 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at River Bend Community Park, 6N517 Geneva Ave., St. Charles. All ages are encouraged to run like a mummy. Trick-or-treat at the candy/prize stations, Halloween crafts, snacks and beverages. Awards for best Halloween costume. $10. Register: stcparks.org/events.
Fire Department Open House: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 12, at Station #15, 3201 W. Algonquin Road, Rolling Meadows. Free. cityrm.org.
Halloween Bash: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Triphahn Center & Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Pumpkin decorating, crafts and snacks. Costumes are encouraged for kids 1-7. Must register by Friday, Oct. 11. $8-$9. heparks.org/event/halloween-bash.
Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Featuring artistically arranged tabletop displays from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids. Orchid plants for sale, as well as repotting services. Photographers’ Hour from 9-10 a.m. Sunday. $12.95-$20.95. chicagobotanic.org.
6th Annual Chicago Printers Guild Publishers Fair: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. An exhibition and sale featuring the works of the contemporary Midwest print scene, showcasing an array of prints, zines, publications, posters, artist books and more. Free. chicagoprintersguild.org.
Fall Festival at Danada: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13, at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Equestrian performances, hayrides, kids’ activities, displays, food and more. dupageforest.org.
Autumn Jubilee: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Villa Park Historical Museum and Visitors Center, 220 S. Villa Ave., Villa Park. Free. invillapark.com.
Boo Bash: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the ARC Center, 201 W. National St., West Chicago. Halloween games, treats, hayrides, live entertainment, crafts, activities and more for kids 12 and younger. Preregistration closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. $10-$12 or $15 at the door. Register at we-goparks.org/special-events.
Halloween Fall Fest: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Hunt Club Community Center & Park, 920 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee. Hayrides, carnival games, crafts, DJ entertainment, Halloween-themed activities and a costume contest. $11 for residents, $13 for nonresidents, free for guardians. gurneeparkdistrict.com.
Ghost Story Train: 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26, at the Fox River Trolley Museum, off Route 31, South Elgin. Ride a spooky trolley to the haunted forest preserve for family-friendly frights, including stories around the campfire with treats from Margie's Girls' Kitchen. A ghostly musician will lead campfire songs. Costumes welcome. $20. Register at foxtrolley.org/Ghost-Story-Train.
St. Alphonsus Liguori Oktoberfest: Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights. German chicken dinner, beer tent, drinks, dancing, live music and more. 21 or older. $40 includes dinner. saintalphonsusph.org/oktoberfest.
Night at the Museum: 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Batavia Depot Museum, 155 Houston St., Batavia. Flashlight tour of the museum. All ages. $7. Tickets: bataviaparks.org.
Sunday, Oct. 13
The Big Sit: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, on the patio and on the sidewalk at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Road, Ringwood. Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week with the annual international noncompetitive birding event. Bring a lawn chair and binoculars. Kids 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. hackmatacknwr.org.
Lindenhurst Artisan Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Lindenhurst Center, 2082 E. Grand Ave., Lindenhurst. Local artisans and makers, food vendors, kids’ activities, YA author Zee Lacson book signing, caricatures, glitter tattoos, live music and more. Free. facebook.com/hteventspopup.
Modern Vintage: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Ravenswood Event Center, 4021 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. Vintage apparel and accessory show. $12 online, $15 at the gate, $20 with a tote. randolphstreetmarket.com.
Walk With Me: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park. Visit miniature horses and dogs in partnership with the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program. Register at eventbrite.com.
Fall Fest Trunk or Treat: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Road, Northbrook. Trunk or Treat, kids’ costume contest, face painting, bounce houses, live music and snacks for purchase. Free. nsymca.org/events/fall-fest-2024.
Pet Costume Parade: Noon Sunday, Oct. 13, at 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Pets in costume can participate in the fifth annual pet costume parade. All dogs must remain leashed. Free. longgrove.org/festival/october-days.
Creepy Cookies and Pumpkin Decorating: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Community Recreation Center, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Crafts, music, and pumpkin- and Halloween-themed cookie- and cupcake-decorating for kids 5-12. Registration required. $25-$30. wheelingparkdistrict.com/recreation/special-events.
Monday, Oct. 14
Grandparents and Me Day at the Lake: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Arts and crafts, hikes, nature scavenger hunt, and go boating or fishing at Lake Ellyn. Bring a fishing pole; bait will be provided. Kids 3-12 must be accompanied by an adult. $20-$25 per child. Register at gepark.org/register.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 16-20 and 23-27, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See hand-carved, LED-lit jack-o’-lanterns staged along a festive paved pathway where visitors will encounter characters and can watch live pumpkin carving. Tickets start at $23 for adults, $16 for kids 3-12, and free for kids 2 and younger. Some dates are sold out. chicagobotanic.org/halloween.
Family Pumpkin Carving: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. Halloween-themed pumpkin carving for all ages. All supplies provided. Registration required. $25-$35. ahpd.org/event/5541.
Irish Session: 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Quigley’s Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson, Naperville. A casual gathering of musicians playing traditional Irish music on their traditional Irish instruments. Hear live reels, hornpipes, slip jigs and favorite traditional Irish tunes. wsirish.org/content.aspx.
Thursday, Oct. 17
Glam Witches Night Out: 5-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at The Matrix Club, 808 Route 59, Naperville. Naperville Woman’s Club fundraiser. witchesnightoutnaperville.org.
Cemetery Walk: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at West Side Cemetery, 900 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Respectful tour includes stories of Batavia’s past residents. For all ages. $12. Tickets: bataviaparks.org.
Ongoing
Fall Color Festival: 9 a.m. to sunset daily through Oct. 29 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Themed events throughout the fall. $12-$17. mortonarb.org.
Fall Festivities & Adventures at Keller’s Farmstand: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27 and Monday, Oct. 14, at Keller’s Farmstand, 2500 Johnson Road, Oswego. 8-acre corn maze, two tranquility labyrinths, pedal vehicles on paved tracks, brick maze, tire stack, farm animals, wagon rides and more. $12 in advance, $14 at the gate. kellersfarmstand.com.
Goebbert’s Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 30 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center, 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Animals, corn stalk mazes, wagon rides, pig races, fall food, produce and more. $18 on weekdays and $23 online or $25 at the gate on weekends and holidays. goebbertspumpkinfarm.com/fall-festival.
Pumpkin Fest: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. See the zoo’s animals and thousands of pumpkins lining the zoo’s lawn. Children’s rides for a fee. Apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, cornstalks and various sizes of straw bales for purchase. Proceeds benefit Cosley Zoo. Regular admission. cosleyzoo.org.
Randall Oaks Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 27 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Pedal tractors, pumpkins and fall treats for sale, and on weekends, hayrides for $3 and animal shows $6; free for kids 1 and younger and U.S. military with ID. dtpd.org/fall-festival.
Señorita Mariposa Story Walk: 9 a.m. to sunset daily through Oct. 31 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. A family-friendly outdoor exhibition featuring the Spanish-English bilingual book by Mister G. on the migration of a monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico. The book’s illustrated pages will be displayed on large-scale panels along Meadow Lake Trail. $12-$17. mortonarb.org.
Abbey Farms' Pumpkin Daze: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and Sundays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 27 at Abbey Farms, 2855 Hart Road, Aurora. Pumpkin patch, 8-acre corn maze, jumping pillow, corn cannons, mega drop slide, zip lines, hayrides, live music, a beer garden, weekend petting zoos, food and more. $16-$22; free for kids 2 and younger. abbeyfarms.org/pumpkin-daze.
Happy Times Pumpkinfest at Didier Farms: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays through Oct. 27 at Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire. Amusement rides, shows, fall merchandise, pumpkin sales and fall treats. Free entry; rides/attractions ticketed. happytimespumpkinfest.com.
Sonny Acres Farm Fall Fest: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30 at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago. Amusement rides, petting zoo, hayrides, seasonal food, train rides, live music and more. For ticket prices, see sonnyacres.com.
Boo at the Zoo: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 20 at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Kids can check out the creatures, creepy crawlers and more in their Halloween costume and get a sweet treat. No guests over 13 are allowed in the zoo in full-body costumes with their head covered. Included with zoo admission. brookfieldzoo.org/BooAtTheZoo.
Pumpkin Weekends: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27 and Monday, Oct. 14, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Pumpkin carver on Saturday and face painter on Sunday. $10. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Santa’s Village Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 27 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at Santa’s Village, 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. The amusement park and petting zoo will be open, along with pumpkin patches, family-friendly haunted houses, seasonal food, a sensory play area filled with corn and more. Tickets start at $28.99. santasvillagedundee.com.
“The Grimmest of Tales”: 4-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27 starting at Morton Arboretum's Thornhill Shelter, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Dare to delve into the darker side of the original horror stories by the Brothers Grimm in this walking play along a one- to two-mile hiking route. Bring water, portable chairs or blankets and bug spray. $15-$25. Register: mortonarb.org.
Autumn Hayrides: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 19 at Primrose Farm, 5N726 Crane Road, St. Charles. Ticket includes a 30-minute tractor-drawn wagon ride and the supplies to make s'mores over an open fire. $16. Register: stcparks.org/events.
Halloween Experience trolley tours: Full tours from 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Volo Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Hear — and see depicted on video — tales of metaphysical sightings experienced on the Volo museum grounds over the years, then take part in a sing-along and head out toward Halloween Town to see dozens of creepy, giant inflatables over a 75-acre area north of the museum. $16.95; free for kids 4 and younger if they can sit on a guardian’s lap. volocars.com/train-tours-haunted-tour.
Jack O’Lantern World: Time slots vary by day Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 27 at Jack O'Lantern World, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. See 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins, over 2,000-pound U.S. National Champion giant pumpkins, a pirate ship light show, giant inflatables, glowing mini golf and more. $20.99 for adults, $14.99 for kids Thursdays; $23.99/$15.99 Fridays and Sundays; and $24.99/$16.99 Saturdays. thejackolanternworld.com/lakezurich.
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest: Select days through Nov. 3 at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Thrills by day and frights by night with haunted houses, scare zones, spine-chilling shows and rides. For ticket prices and hours, visit sixflags.com/greatamerica/events/fright-fest-2024.