Things to do Oct. 10-16: Glass Pumpkin Patch, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura and more

Starts before Friday

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns: 6-10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 8-12, 15-19 and 22-26, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See hand-carved, LED-lit jack-o’-lanterns, characters and live pumpkin carving along a festive paved pathway. $22-$27 for adults, $15-$18 for kids 3-12, and free for kids younger than 3. chicagobotanic.org/halloween.

Friday, Oct. 10

St. Charles Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in the parking lot next to the old police station on Riverview and Cedar Avenue, St. Charles. Meat, eggs, cheese, breads, sweets, honey, microgreens, mushrooms and more. Free. facebook.com/STCFarmersMarket.

Ghoulish Gourds on Parade: 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 10. Drop off a carved or decorated pumpkin at the River View Miniature Golf Course courtyard, 8 North Ave., St. Charles. Judging will be 3-9 p.m. Friday during Ghoulish Golf, when participants will vote on their favorites. Free admission, $5 per pumpkin entry. Register: stcparks.org/events.

Glass Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Shop one-of-a-kind glass creations and watch glassblowing demonstrations by artists every 30 minutes from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Flameworking demonstrations will be held at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Rain or shine. Presale viewing from 10-11 a.m. Friday. Included with arboretum admission. Tickets: mortonarb.org.

Scarecrow Fest: Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown St. Charles. 40th annual fest features over 110 handcrafted scarecrows on display around town for visitors to view and vote on their favorites. Family Zone with live entertainment in Lincoln Park. Activity Zone with photo ops, Scarecrow-to-Go and family activities on Riverside Avenue. Autumn on the Fox Arts & Crafts Show at Pottawatomie Park. Free. scarecrowfest.com.

Downtown Elgin Market: 3-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on South Riverside Drive, Elgin. Farmers, makers, live music, Sip N’ Shop and kids’ activities. Dog-friendly. LINK Matching program. Free. downtownelgin.com/market.

Oktoberfest: 5-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Bridges Beer Garden, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates. German dancers, live music, and food and beverages for purchase. Free. heparks.org.

Autumn Hayrides: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, 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. Kids 15 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. $16. Register: stcparks.org/events.

Halloween Happening: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard St., Wheaton. Games, prizes, touch-a-truck, bounce house, airbrush tattoos, concessions, life-size games like Candyland and more. Costumes encouraged. Small fee for some activities. Fun pass: $25 residents, $30 nonresidents. VIP Fun Pass (early access at 5 p.m.): $35-$40. Prices increase the day of. Register at wheatonparkdistrict.com.

Hayrides at Hoffman Park: 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and 5:15, 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the dog park at Hoffman Park, West Main Street, Cary. Hayride and campfire under the stars. $10. Register: carypark.com.

Spooky Scavenger Hunt: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg. Family scavenger hunt around the farm. Free. parkfun.com/event/spooky-scavenger-hunt.

Oddities Night: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. A Victorian Halloween gathering with drinks, bites, oddities, a tarot card reader, a magician and more. 21-and-older event. $40, $30 for Arlington Heights Historical Society members. ahpd.org.

Iliza Shlesinger: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Comedy. Tickets start at $63.80. msg.com/the-chicago-theatre.

Spooky Stories and Songs of the Season: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 125 W. Church St., Elmhurst, and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Elmhurst Public Library, 125 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Hear a collection of spine-chilling stories from GreenMan Theatre. $10 Friday and Saturday; registration required for Tuesday. greenmantheatre.org.

Lumenaura: Oct. 10-26 along Aurora’s downtown riverfront. This glowing wonderland of immersive light and sound features mesmerizing art displays, interactive artistic soundscapes and a magical, family-friendly adventure. Main stage entertainment Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12. Free. yourvoice.aurora.il.us/lumenaura.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Naperville Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Fifth Avenue Station parking lot, 200 E. Fifth Ave., Naperville. Locally grown food, breads, sweets and an array of products. Free. facebook.com/NapervilleFarmersMarket.

Batavia Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, on North River Street, between Wilson and Spring streets, Batavia. Produce, baked goods, plants, honey and related farm products. Vendors must grow, harvest and/or produce at least 75% of market products. Free. downtownbatavia.com/farmers-market.

Huntley Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, along Coral Street, Huntley. Fresh produce, artisanal crafts and treats from regional vendors. Free. huntley.il.us.

Wheaton French Market: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Main and Liberty streets, Wheaton. Outdoor market offering fresh produce, flowers, handcrafted goods, specialty foods, jewelry, crafts, baked goods and more. Free. bensidounusa.com/wheaton.

Collect-A-Con: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Donald E. Stephenson Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Trading card, anime and pop culture convention. Tickets start at $49.29 for Saturday, $44.04 for Sunday, $65.04 for both days, and free for kids 7 and younger. collectaconusa.com/chicago-2.

Great Pumpkin Hunt: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Red Oak Nature Center, 930 N. River Road, North Aurora. Grab directions from the front desk and set off on a scenic hike to track down the Great Pumpkin and the hidden treasure. Snap a photo. Register to receive a prize. $12. Register: redoaknaturecenter.info/special-events.

Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, 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. $17.95-$23.95. chicagobotanic.org.

Jarvis Square Artisan Market: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Jarvis Square Alfresco, 1500 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. Artisan market with 28 rotating local makers featuring candles, soaps, plants, cards, performance arts, tarot readings, food, oddities and more. Free. jarvissquarechicago.org.

Rolling Meadows Fire Department Open House: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Station 15, 3201 W. Algonquin Road, Rolling Meadows. Learn about the fire department. Free. cityrm.org.

Autumn Harvest: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at North School Park, 307 N. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights. Crafts, games, hayrides, a scarecrow-building contest, live music, entertainment and more. Food for purchase, including Garibaldi’s Pizza, Kori’s Koop and AJz Kettlecorn. Free. ahpd.org.

Fall Festival at Danada: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, at Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road, Wheaton. Equestrian performances, hayrides, kids’ activities, displays, food and more. Free admission; fee for some activities. dupageforest.org.

Pumpkin Weekends: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, and Columbus Day at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Pumpkin carver on Saturday and face painter on Sunday. $10 for ages 1 and older. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

DIY Scarecrow Day: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, behind Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 342 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Reserve a time to build a custom scarecrow using a variety of clothing and accessories. Register in advance. $10 per scarecrow. longgrove.org/festival/october-days.

Halloween Fall Fest: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Hunt Club Park Community Center, 920 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee. Hayrides, carnival games, crafts, entertainment, Trick-or-Treat Path, glow-in-the-dark ghost busting, pumpkin bounce house, magic show and more. $12 for residents, $14 for nonresidents per child in advance, $13/$15 at the door. gurneeparkdistrict.com.

Electric Trolley History: 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Doug Rundell, a volunteer train operator at the Fox River Trolley Museum, will talk about the history of local trolley lines, including one line that served Glen Ellyn. Free. gehs.org.

A Conversation with Kamala Harris: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. Former Vice President Kamala Harris tells the story of her presidential campaign. Tickets start at $115. auditoriumtheatre.org.

Aurora Water Lantern Festival: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 W. 95th St., Naperville. Witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water. $36.96-$62.96. Tickets: waterlanternfestival.com/events/aurora.

“Farewell, Mr. Poe”: 4-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, starting at Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Shelter, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. In the last four days of his life, Edgar Allan Poe drifted in and out of consciousness before he died. Where did his mind wander? Find out for yourself, as the paths wind through Poe’s life and poetry, until he confronts his earthly departure. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Bring water, portable chairs or blankets for seating, and bug spray. $17-$27. Register: mortonarb.org.

Ghost Story Train: 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 11, 18 and 25, 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.

Night at the Nature Center: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Kids 5-11 can enjoy a night around the campfire with hot dogs and s’mores, then explore nature at night with games, hikes and crafts. $30-$35. Register: genevaparks.org.

School of Haunt — Haunted House: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at School of Rock, 105 N. Maple Ave., Elmhurst. Themed rooms, scare actors and a night of fright for ages 13 and older. Hosted by School of Rock Elmhurst. Free. schoolofrock.com.

Stews & Brews: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave., Highland Park. A night of hearty comfort foods such as chili, pozole, lamb stew, beef stroganoff, Hungarian goulash, pot pies and a variety of soups; unique brews including craft beers, spiced wine, hot toddies, mulled ciders and more; and live music including Keys Dueling Pianos at 5 p.m. and Anchors Away at 7 p.m. Free. enjoyhighlandpark.com.

Boo Bash: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 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. Saturday. $12-$15 or $15 at the door. Register: we-goparks.org/special-events.

Howl-Ween: 6-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Lincoln Dog park in Aurora. Dog treats, costume contest, goody bag and all the eggs the dogs can find. Dogs must remain on a nonretractable leash, wearing tags and current on vaccinations. $5 per dog. Register: foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

“Disenchanted!”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. A musical that gives a new spin to Disney princess classics. Contains adult language and themes and is not appropriate for kids. $50. eccartscenter.org.

“MasterChef All-Stars Live”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Favorite chefs from the TV show in live competitions and demonstrations. Tickets start at $40.35. geneseetheatre.com.

Elgin Symphony season opener: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Conductor Chad Goodman leads the ESO guest pianist Orion Weiss and the symphony in Carlos Simon’s “Motherboxx Connection,” H. Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” and Gershwin’s Concerto in F. $20-$68; $10 for students. elginsymphony.org.

Jeremy Kahn Quartet: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. Chicago-based jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn returns to “Saturday Night Lights” with a quartet featuring vocalist Petra Van Nuis in her St. Charles debut. $30. norrisculturalarts.com.

Sunday, Oct. 12

The Big Sit: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, 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, binoculars and layered clothing. Ages 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Drop-in program. Free. mccdistrict.org.

Buffalo Grove Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in Mike Rylko Park, 951 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Meat, cheese, bakery, coffee, knife sharpening and more from 42 vendors, with weekly entertainment, a kids’ craft tent and Business of the Week vendors and nonprofits. Free. vbg.org/165/Farmers-Market.

Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. New and used motorcycle parts of all types and brands, leathers, sewing, jewelry, toys and more. Rain or shine. $10 for ages 15 and older. walneckswap.com.

Crystal Lake Farmers Market+ At The Dole: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, on the front lawn of the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Live music, kids’ activities, beverages, food trucks and more. Free. farmersmarketatthedole.org.

Pumpkin Jubilee: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Lakefront Park, 10 Riverview Ave., Fox Lake. Artisan craft vendors, food vendors, trackless train rides in the park, face painters, music, a kids’ costume contest and pumpkin carving. Free; carving pumpkins will be available for $4. foxlake.org.

Pumpkin Splash: 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at The Club, 5050 Sedge Blvd., Hoffman Estates. Swim in the pumpkin patch pool to find a pumpkin. Includes pumpkin decorations and a treat for kids. $10-$12. heparks.org.

Raptor Sunday: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington. Meet the snowy, great horned, barred, barn and screech owls, along with a peregrine falcon, turkey vulture, broad-winged and red-shouldered hawks. $20 per car. stillmannc.org.

“Buried Child”: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Albright Community Theatre, 100 N. Island Ave., 3rd floor, Batavia. The Sam Shepard play probes the disintegration of the American Dream with a dysfunctional family on a rural farm. $18-$23. albrighttheatre.com.

Creepy Cookies and Pumpkin Decorating: 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Community Recreation Center, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Kids can decorate Halloween-themed treats and a pumpkin. Registration required. $25-$30. wheelingparkdistrict.com.

Capitol Fools: 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Comedy. $39-$49. atthemac.org.

Hampshire Trunk-or-Treat: 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, on State Street and Washington Avenue, Hampshire. Decorated trunks offering candy and goodies will line the streets, the Hampshire Lions Club will serve free hot dogs, a DJ will mix spooky hits, plus there will be a haunted bus, food pantry collection and more. hampshireparkdistrict.org.

Jonathan Ryan: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Internationally renowned concert organist. Free. firstpresah.org.

Monday, Oct. 13

Hinsdale Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, along Chicago Avenue, between Garfield and Washington, Hinsdale. Fresh produce and unique finds from farms and stores. Free. hinsdalechamber.com/farmers-market.

Grandparents and Me Day at the Lake: 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 13, at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Arts and crafts activities, explore the outdoors with a hike or 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.

Fall Fest Trunk-or-Treat: Noon to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Road, Northbrook. Kids’ activities, live music from Bach to Rock, bingo, food, vendors and more. Free. nsymca.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

“Hey There: The Music of Rosemary Clooney”: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Kaity Paschetto, backed by a trio, breathes new life into classics like “Mambo Italiano,” “Hey There,” “Tenderly” and “Come On-a My House.” $35. eccartscenter.org.

All You Need Is Jazz: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Gail Borden Public Library Meadows Community Rooms AB, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Favorite Beatles tunes reimagined by a Chicago-area jazz trio on piano, drums and electric bass. Free. Register: gailborden.info.

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Elmhurst Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church’s parking lot, 149 W. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst. Fresh produce, local vendors, artisan goods and food trucks. Free. elmhurstfarmersmarket.com or facebook.com/ElmhurstFarmersMarket.

Midweek Matinee: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. See “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971). $8. woodstockoperahouse.com.

Movies on the Green: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Centennial Green at the Mount Prospect Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. See “Hocus Pocus.” Bring blankets and chairs. Free. mpdowntown.com/events.

Aurora Film Society: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, Aurora. Featuring the 1973 Peter Bogdanovich film “Paper Moon,” starring Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $10. themusicvenue.org.

Rosaway: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Paris-based disco-jazz duo. Tickets start at $19. rauecenter.org.

Irish Session: 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 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. Free. wsirish.org/content.aspx.

Thursday, Oct. 16

Daley Plaza Farmers Markets: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. Fresh produce, prepared food, flowers, garden plants, handcrafted merchandise and locally sourced goods. Free. chicago.gov.

Cemetery Walk: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at West Side Cemetery, 900 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Respectful tour including stories of Batavia’s past residents. Weather permitting. $12. Tickets: bataviaparks.org.

Illinois Regional College Fair: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Representatives from nearly 150 colleges and universities in Illinois and across the U.S. will provide information about admission. Free. clcillinois.edu.

“The Great Gatsby Ballet”: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Performed by the World Ballet Company. Tickets start at $58.50. geneseetheatre.com.

The King’s Singers: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Armerding Concert Hall, 520 E. Kenilworth Ave., Wheaton. Grammy and Emmy Award-winning vocal group will be joined by the Wheaton College Concert Choir. Tickets start at $31.86, $11.80 for students. tickets.wheaton.edu.

Autumn Movie in the Park “Wicked”: Dusk Thursday, Oct. 16, at Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave., Glen Ellyn. Bring chairs, blankets, bug spray, snacks and beverages. Free. gepark.org.

Ongoing

Creepy Critters Month: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31 at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville. Kids can drop in to take part in self-guided activities about spiders, bats, rats, crows, worms and vultures, and participate in an indoor scavenger hunt to win a prize. Free. napervilleparks.org/knochknollsnaturecenter.

Goebbert’s Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 30 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. Some attractions are only available on the weekends. $19 weekdays; $23 in advance online and $26 at the door on weekends; free for kids 2 and younger. Extra fees for animal rides ($8) and gem mining ($10-$25). goebbertspumpkinfarm.com/fall-festival.

McHenry Stade’s Farm Market: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at 3709 Miller Road, McHenry. Free. stadesfarmandmarket.com.

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. Kids’ rides for a fee. Apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, cornstalks, straw bales and fall merchandise for purchase. Proceeds benefit Cosley Zoo. Admission: Free for Wheaton Park District residents and Cosley Zoo Members; nonresidents: $12 for ages 12-59, $10 for 60 and older, and free for kids 11 and younger. cosleyzoo.org.

Randall Oaks Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 2 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 at 1:30 p.m. $6; free for kids 1 and younger and U.S. military with ID. dtpd.org/fall-festival.

Alex Ross — Heroes & Villains: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and Wednesdays and 2-8 p.m. Thursdays, through Feb. 16, 2026, at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. A larger-than-life presentation of the work of legendary comic book artist Alex Ross featuring heroes and villains from the Marvel and DC universes. Museum admission $3-$10, exhibit tickets $5-$10, free for kids 3 and younger. LCFPD.org/planyourvisit.

Boo at the Zoo: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31 at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s family-friendly Halloween celebration with not-so-scary thrills, festive decorations and more. On weekends, there’s trick-or-treating, a magician and other activities. Included with zoo admission. brookfieldzoo.org/BooAtTheZoo.

Happy Times Pumpkinfest at Didier Farms: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays, through Sunday, Oct. 26, at Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire. Amusement rides, shows, fall merchandise, pumpkin sales, fall treats and more. Free entry; fees for rides and attractions. happytimespumpkinfest.com.

Six Flags Great America Fright Fest: 5-11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 1, at Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Drive, Gurnee. Thrills by day and frights by night with haunted houses, scare zones, spine-chilling shows and rides. Plus, kids’ Boo Fest and Oktoberfest. Tickets start at $45. sixflags.com/greatamerica/events.

Volo Paranormal Tours: Noon, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 2 at the Volo Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Tour brings to life stories of paranormal encounters at the Volo museum. $3 with museum admission. Reservations recommended. volofun.com.

Richardson Adventure Farm: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Sundays, and 3-9 p.m. Thursdays, through Oct. 26, at Richardson Farm, 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, observation tower, zip line, zorbing, pig races and more. $24, $20 for kids 3-12, and free for kids 2 and younger; $30/$24 Saturdays and Sundays. richardsonadventurefarm.com.

Jack O’Lantern World: Time slots start around 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Nov. 1 at Paulus Park, 215 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, and The Forge, 227 Heritage Quarries Drive, Lemont. See and explore thousands of pumpkins arranged in displays and more, plus a pumpkin patch, 30-foot inflatables, food trucks, a beer garden, mini golf and more. Tickets range from $17.99-$27.99. thejackolanternworld.com.

“Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience”: Various times through Nov. 2 (except Oct. 14, 20-21 and 27-28), at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside. Lights transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail featuring creatures from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. A themed village at the end of the trail will offer food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12, $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.