Things to do Oct. 24-30: Nightmare on Chicago Street, Taste of the Town, Halloween events and more

Starts before Friday

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns: 6-10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 22-26, 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. $22-$27 for adults, $15-$18 for kids 3-12, and free for kids younger than 3. chicagobotanic.org/halloween.

Pumpkin Festival: Various times Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 22-26, with many activities at Main and State streets and on the courthouse lawn, Sycamore. 64th annual festival with decorated pumpkins, carnivals, nonprofit vendors, craft shows, Saturday entertainment and activities. Autumn Craft and Treasures Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Sycamore High School Fieldhouse; $1-$3 entry. The 47th annual Sycamore Chamber 10K Pumpkin Run starts at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Pumpkin Festival Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday. Free; some activities have fees. sycamorepumpkinfestival.com.

Richardson Adventure Farm: 3-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, 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 in October. richardsonadventurefarm.com.

Ackerman Haunted Trail: 4-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23-24, at Ackerman Park, 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn. The walk will take about 10 minutes. The trail will be less scary from 4-6 p.m. and geared toward older children from 6-9 p.m. Refreshments for purchase. $5. Register at gepark.org/register.

Nate Bargatze: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23-24, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. “Big Dumb Eyes World Tour.” Tickets start at $61.45. unitedcenter.com.

West Chicago Spooky Trail: 7:30-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 23-25, at Reed-Keppler Park, 129 W. National St., West Chicago. A one-third-mile haunted trail with ghouls, witches and more. $15 in advance; $18 at the door. Register: we-goparks.org/special-events.

Friday, Oct. 24

Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot Machine & Jukebox Show: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Antique slot machines, jukeboxes, advertising memorabilia, gumball and penny arcade machines, music boxes, pinball machines, antique video games, vinyl records and more. Friday early-bird admission: $50, Saturday admission: $10, free for kids younger than 12. chicagolandshow.com.

St. Charles Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in the parking lot next to the old police station on Riverview and Cedar Avenue, St. Charles. Meats, eggs, cheese, breads, sweets, honey, microgreens, mushrooms and more. facebook.com/STCFarmersMarket.

Halloween Candy Stroll: 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Jens Jensen Park, 540 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park. Trick-or-treating, pumpkin selfies, music, vendors and more. Free. enjoyhighlandpark.com.

Trick-or-Treating in Downtown Long Grove: 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, near 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Kids can trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Costumes encouraged. Free. longgrove.org/festival/october-days.

Boo Bash: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at North Park, 1025 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. Family-friendly event. Free. lincolnshireil.gov.

Halloween Fest: 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Pavilion, Museum Campus and Pirates’ Cove, 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. Games, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and rides at Pirates’ Cove. $15 for kids, free for adults. elkgroveparks.org.

Howlin’ at the Moon: 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Thrilling performances and attractions, haunted experiences, costume contest, food, drinks and more. Music lineup: Friday: Fresh Hops from 5:15-7:15 p.m. and High Fade from 8-10 p.m. and Saturday: Chicago’s Family Groove Company from 5:15-7:15 p.m. and Kyle Hollingsworth Band, led by The String Cheese Incident keyboardist, from 8-10 p.m. For 21 and older. $25. Tickets: napersettlement.org/627/Howlin-at-the-Moon.

Pumpkin Splash Spectacular: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Community Center Indoor Pool, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Kids 3-7 can search for pumpkins scattered throughout the pools. Plus, Halloween crafts, inflatables, photo opportunities and treats. Registration required. $10. wheelingparkdistrict.com.

Trick-or-Treat Trail: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Walk through the no-scare trail, where friendly characters will hand out candy to kids. Plus, games, entertainment and more. Parents must accompany kids 12 and younger during the event. Free. bgparks.org/trick-or-treat-trail.

Autumn Hayrides: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, 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.

Cantigny Family Night Trick-or-Treating: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Take a walking tour through the park with candy stations and entertainment along the way. Parking is $6 per car. cantigny.org.

Halloween Movie in the Barn: 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the village hall barn, 2 Lagoon Drive, Hawthorn Woods. Screening of a seasonal movie at 6:30 p.m. Free. vhw.org.

Owl-O-Ween: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Wings & Talons talk about owls and how they have adapted to be hunters of the night. With live owls on-site. $15-$18. Register: genevaparks.org.

Halloween 3K Fun Run: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Techny Prairie Park and Fields, 1700 Techny Road, Northbrook. Come dressed in costume. Themed activities and a costume contest after the race. $15 per person, family packs available. nbparks.org.

Hayrides at Hoffman Park: 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and 5:15, 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the dog park at Hoffman Park, West Main Street, Cary. Hayride and campfire under the stars. $10. Register: carypark.com.

Oak Brook Historic Cemetery Walk: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Bronswood Cemetery, 3805 Madison St., Oak Brook. Learn about notable past residents of the city of Oak Brook, presented by Elmhurst’s GreenMan Theatre Troupe. $20. Registration required at tinyurl.com/ms96zayn.

Trick-or-Treat on the Trails: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Drive, St. Charles. Kids can journey through the oak savanna for safe and spooky, but not scary, nature fun. Activity stations offer hands-on learning experiences and treats. Bring a flashlight and a treat bag. Visit with animal ambassadors. $12; free for kids 2 and younger. Register: stcparks.org/events.

Haunted Forest Walk: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and 1-3 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Hawthorne Hill Woods, Woodridge. Wind your way through the haunted forest trail surrounded by scary characters. The matinee is suitable for kids 9 and younger (parental discretion). Park at the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center and take a hayride to the event. $10; $5 for matinee at the gate. woodridgeparks.org.

Haunted Train Ride: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Bring a flashlight and board the haunted train. Plus, wagon rides, carousel, a spooky craft and a bonfire with s’mores. For kids 4-10. $15. Register: blackberryfarm.info/special-events.

“Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends”: 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 24, at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Musical based on the books “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” “Iggy Peck, Architect” and “Ada Twist, Scientist” by Andrea Beaty. For grades K-4. $17 kids, $19-$24 adults. AtTheMAC.org.

The Final Cut: 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at the Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. A haunted house for ages 8 or older that’s inspired by the scariest moments in horror films. $10 at the door. dgparks.org.

Witches Night Out: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Lombard Historical Society, Victorian Cottage Museum, Carriage House, and Lilac Emporium Gift Shop, 23 W. Maple St., Lombard. A women-only night benefiting the Lombard Juniors and Lombard Historical Society. Tickets start at $55.20 at eventbrite.com.

Cirque Mechanics “Tilt!”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1250 W. Wilson St., Batavia. The show combines circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders and clowning. $49-$75. bataviafineartscentre.org.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’s “Twelfth Night”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Performed by an all-male cast in authentic Elizabethan costume, infused with music, song and spirited dance. $35; free for kids 12 and younger with a paid ticket. eccartscenter.org.

Penn & Teller: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. The magicians are on their 50th Anniversary Tour. Tickets start at $74.55. msg.com.

Saturday, Oct. 25

Naperville Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Fifth Avenue Station parking lot, 200 E. Fifth Ave., Naperville. Locally grown food, breads, sweets and an array of products, and a Halloween Parade. facebook.com/NapervilleFarmersMarket.

Fall Color 5K Run and Walk: 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Run or walk the 5K through the wooded east side. The post race party includes live music, food trucks and a complimentary beverage. $55-$70. Register: mortonarb.org.

Wheaton French Market: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Main and Liberty streets in Wheaton. Outdoor market offering fresh produce, flowers, handcrafted goods, specialty foods, jewelry, crafts, baked goods and more. bensidounusa.com/wheaton.

Halloween Hustle 5K and Kids Dash: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Adrenaline Special Events, 345 N. Eric Drive, Palatine. Kids Dash at 8:30 a.m., 5K at 9 a.m. Immediately following the race, runners and spectators are invited to an after-party at the Tap House Grill. 5K: $40-$60; Kids Dash: $20-$30. halloweenhustle.com.

GO90 workout fundraiser: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Life Time locations, 455 Scott Drive, Bloomingdale; 601 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge; 15 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago; 1618 Sherman Ave., Evanston; 400 N. Rand Road, Lake Zurich; 1100 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook; 2000 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook; 16333 LaGrange Road, Orland Park; 5300 Old Orchard Road, Skokie; and 28141 Diehl Road, Warrenville. Join a workout class to raise money for Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS and the Life Time Foundation. $25. Register at lifetime.formstack.com/forms/g090_move_with_meaning.

Howl O’ Ween Dog Parade: 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Prizes will be awarded. One handler per dog. Held rain or shine. Free. Advance registration required at genevaparks.org.

Spooky City in Burlington: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Burlington, Wisconsin. Family-friendly Halloween event including trick-or-treating, Dia de los Muertos, live entertainment, movies, hayrides, food, shopping and Coffin Races. Free. facebook.com/SpookyCity.

Glen Ellyn Halloween Festival & Parade: 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25, from the corner of Main and Crescent, Glen Ellyn. Parade lineup at 9:30 a.m., with the parade stepping off at 9:45 a.m. Trick-or-treating at local businesses from 10 a.m. to noon. Free. glenellynchamber.com/halloween.

BatFest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Peg Bond Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Downtown trick-or-treating, music and dance performances, human and pet costume contests, activities and a parade. Free. Find participating businesses and the event schedule at downtownbatavia.com/event/batfest.

Chicago Women’s Expo: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. See the latest in shopping, fashion, food, entertainment, cosmetics and travel for women, plus keynote speakers and more. Tickets start at $5 per day. chicagowomensexpo.com.

Great Food Expo: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Sample food and beverages, shop from vendors and more. Tickets available online starting at $6.24 per day. greatfoodexpo.com/chicago.

Halloween Hayday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Persinger Rec Center, 3507 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Games, science activities, costume contest, Halloween egg hunt, entertainment, bounce houses, hay rides (weather permitting) and more. For kids 14 and younger: $11-$13 in advance; $13-$16 at the door. Free for adults. Register at genevaparks.org.

Lake County Home Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Over 120 businesses will present the latest in home remodeling, roofing, architecture design services, lawn and tree care and more. Free. lakecountyhomeshow.com.

Trunk-or-Treat: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Pioneer Park, 500 S. Fernandez Ave., Arlington Heights. Come in costume for trick-or-treating. For kids 2-13, who must be registered and accompanied by an adult during the event. $10 by noon Friday, Oct. 24; $15 at the door. ahpd.org.

Great Hawthorne Pumpkin Hunt: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive, Elgin. Kids can explore nature while stopping at educational stations, searching for hidden pumpkins, creating a seasonal craft and taking home a mini pumpkin. $10-$12. Register: elginil.gov/recreation.

Elgin Symphony String Quartet — Spooky Strings: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Barrington’s White House, 145 W. Main St., Barrington. Halloween-themed concert. Costumes encouraged. $28.52, family pass for $33.85. barringtonswhitehouse.com.

Grayslake Business Trick-or-Treat: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Grayslake. Trick-or-treat from local businesses. Free. grayslakechamber.com.

Halloween Walk: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Cary and Fox River Grove. In Cary, trick-or-treating, costumes and a parade led by the 2025 Miss Cary-Grove from 11 a.m. to noon starting at Tasty Sushi and ending at Athletico in the Jewel Shopping Center. In Fox River Grove, the parade begins at Leader Ace Hardware in the Stone Hill Shopping Center and ends at Wonderland Kids Academy from 1-2 p.m. Free. carygrovechamber.com.

Pumpkin Weekends: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Balloon artist on Saturday and World’s Tallest Scarecrow on Sunday. $10 for ages 1 and older. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Trunk-or-Treat at Gorton Center: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Walk from trunk to trunk, collect goodies and explore cars decorated with colorful, creative themes. Free. gortoncenter.org.

Downtown Lisle Trick-or-Treating: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Lisle. Trick-or-treat at participating downtown Lisle businesses. Free. villageoflisle.org.

Naperville Pumpkin Race: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville. In Turning Pointe’s annual fundraiser, pumpkin racers battle for the coveted Pumpkin Race Championship Trophy. Pumpkin race kits assembled by students at Turning Pointe. Prizes for best decorations and best costume. Pumpkin kits are $25. turningpointeautismfoundation.org/events/.

Waukegan Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Kids can walk the enchanted trail to receive candy from professionally costumed characters. Free. waukeganparks.org/halloween.

Downtown Evanston Trick-or-Treat Stroll: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Evanston’s Fountain Square, at the corner of Davis Street, Orrington Avenue and Sherman Avenue, Evanston. Trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Pick up an official map at Fountain Square. Free. downtownevanston.org.

Tricks & Treats in the Valley: 2-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg. All-ages trick-or-treat experience, with the trail beginning at Heritage Farm and continuing past the farm’s historic buildings and into the woods and fields. Wear a costume you can walk in for about half a mile. Entry is timed. Trick-or-treaters must register; free for caregivers. $5-$7. parkfun.com/event/tricks-treats-in-the-valley.

Mini Monster’s Party: 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Red Oak Nature Center, 930 N. River Road, North Aurora. Family-friendly Halloween celebration for kids 3-8 in an open-house format featuring trick-or-treating with the animal ambassadors and a not-so-spooky, self-guided hike through the woods. Adults must accompany kids. $15. Register: redoaknaturecenter.info/special-events/.

Wheaton Haunted Halloween Flea Market: 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 25, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. 13th annual event with thousands of “Fleas & Treasures (Creepy & Otherwise)” for sale. Special guests and more. $10; free for kids 12 and younger with an adult. Free parking. zurkopromotions.com.

Día de los Muertos Week: Various times Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2, in downtown Highland Park. A week of community events, offers and Día de los Muertos-inspired activities. Starting with an Ofrenda altar celebration from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Memorial Park, 405 Laurel Ave., and culminating with a Tarde de Catrinas cultural runway contest from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1900 Sheridan Road. Free. hpculturalarts.org.

“Farewell, Mr. Poe”: 4-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, starting at Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Shelter, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Walking play about the last days of Edgar Allan Poe. 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. Saturday, Oct. 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.

Trick-or-Treating at McHenry Downtown Businesses: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, near 163 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake. Trick-or-treat at local businesses. Free. For a map, visit facebook.com/events/1788089675374809.

BOOs & Brews: 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. This 21-and-older after-hours event features a costume contest, dance party, animal experiences, seasonal brews and cocktails and more. Tickets start at $45 for general admission. brookfieldzoo.org/BoosAndBrews.

Family Wicked Wagon Ride: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Clauss Rec Center fields, 555 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Roselle. After the Zombie Run, take a haunted hayride around the “ball fields of doom” and through the abandoned barn. For kids 12 and younger, accompanied by an adult. $8-$10. Registration required: rparks.org.

Nightmare on Chicago Street: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, on East Chicago and North Spring streets, Elgin. Annual Halloween festival with terrifying attractions, live performances, immersive environments, costume contest, photo ops, celebrities, food and apocalyptic-themed drinks. $35, $40 at the gate. Tickets: nightmareonchicagostreet.com.

Bat Out Of Helloween: Celebrating Meat Loaf And Rocky Horror: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tribute to rock legend Meat Loaf featuring members of Meat Loaf’s original band, The Neverland Express, and “American Idol” winner Caleb Johnson, and the cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” $45-$55. geneseetheatre.com.

Ailey II: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Blending modern masterpieces with bold new works. $58-$62. atthemac.org.

Chicago Master Singers’ “Gracious Light”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St., Glenview. Choral classics by Rutter, Mendelssohn, Gjeilo and others, plus Egil Hovland’s concerto for bassoon and choir, pieces by Jocelyn Hagen and Michael John Trotta, Russian church music and more. Music Director John C. Hughes will host a pre-concert conversation with bassoonist Ben Roidl-Ward at 6:45 p.m. Saturday and 2:15 p.m. Sunday. $19-$49. chicagomastersingers.org/concerts or tiny.cc/CMStickets.

Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tribute to the music of ABBA. $45-$50. prairiecenter.org.

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in Concert: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. The full feature film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” will be projected on the big screen with live accompaniment by the Chicago Philharmonic. Costumes encouraged. $96-$122. auditoriumtheatre.org.

Frank Caliendo: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd., Aurora. Master impressionist and comedian performs. Tickets: $56-$66. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com/events/frank-caliendo/.

Sunday, Oct. 26

Day of the Dead 5K: 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Heritage Park, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. 5K run/walk, plus entertainment, awards, music and food after the race. Registration required. Ages 13 and older: $40; kids 12 and younger: $30. runsignup.com.

Elgin Coin Club Fall Show: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. Buy, sell and trade coins, currency, and assorted numismatic items and collectibles. Kids 6-16 can join the Kids Auction at 12:30 p.m., where they get free bid money to bid on donated lots. Raffle prizes and hourly door prizes. ANACS Coin Grading Service will be on-site. Early bird from 8-9 a.m. for $20 or $2 after. coinzip.com/elgin-coin-club-coin-show.

Bloomingdale Maker’s Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, in the parking lot of Old Town, Third and Franklin streets, Bloomingdale. Local vendors (home decor, jewelry, blankets, clothes and more), entertainment, food trucks and more. Rain or shine. facebook.com/thebloomingdalemakersmarket.

Crystal Lake Farmers Market+ At The Dole: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on the front lawn of the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Live music, kids’ activities, beverages, food trucks and more. farmersmarketatthedole.org.

Spooky Skate: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Triphahn Center Ice Arena, 1685 Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Public skate. Halloween costumes encouraged. $7 in advance, $10 at the event; skate rental $3. heparks.org.

Trick-or-Treat: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Trick-or-treat at the historical homes. Costumes encouraged. Kids younger than 18 must attend with an adult. $6; free for kids younger than 4. Tickets: napersettlement.org.

Halloween Happening: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Sindt Court, Naperville. Kids 10 and younger can play Halloween games, plus a pumpkin patch, a tot town for kids 5 and younger, hayrides, inflatables and goodies. Costumes encouraged. Free. napervilleparks.org/halloweenhappening.

Trick-or-Treat on Main Street: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on Main Street in downtown Wauconda. Trick-or-treat at local businesses. Free. waucondachamber.org.

Trunk-or-Treat: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 S. McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake. My Father’s World Preschool hosts a fair with a bouncy house, selfie station, cake walk, games in the gym and trunk-or-treat in the parking lot. Free. prince-of-peace.org.

Wood Dale Trunk-or-Treat: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on Wood Dale Road and Commercial Street, Wood Dale. Trunk-decorating contest, face painting, balloon art and food for purchase. Email specialevents@wooddale.com to register a vehicle to pass out candy. Free. wooddale.com.

West Suburban Symphony: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. The symphony will perform “Classical Fireworks” including Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture,” Glinka’s “Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture,” and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. $35, $30 for ages 65 and older, $10 for teens, free for kids 12 and younger. westsubsymphony.org.

Waukegan Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Orlin Trapp Auditorium, 2325 Brookside Ave., Waukegan. Featuring A Danny Elfman Spooktacular, “Night on Bald Mountain,” selections from “The Phantom of the Opera” and more. $20, free for kids 18 and younger. waukeganil.gov.

Monday, Oct. 27

Halloween Spooktacular: 10-11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St., Geneva. Crafts, games and a parade through the library. Costumes encouraged. Free. gpld.org.

Halloween Howl: 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at 26603 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside. Meet members of the Fox Lake Police Department and enjoy treats, hot dogs, hot chocolate, kids’ activities and hayrides. Free. foxlake.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

Haunted History Tours at Lincoln Park Zoo: 7 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 28-29, at Lincoln Park Zoo, North Cannon Drive at West Fullerton Parkway, Chicago. Join Adam Selzer — author, podcaster and host of Mysterious Chicago Tours — for walks that delve into the zoo’s cemetery roots and locations from throughout its allegedly haunted history. For 16 and older. $35. lpzoo.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Elmhurst Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 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.

Alive Aurora Pet Parade: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 78 S. LaSalle St., Aurora. Alive Aurora’s Halloween Pet Parade fundraiser to support its free teen drop-in hours. Includes parade, costume contest, food vendors, a petting zoo, activities and more. $25 per family/pet. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com.

Mount Prospect Downtown Trick-or-Treat: 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, in downtown Mount Prospect. Trick-or-treat at downtown Mount Prospect businesses. Costumes encouraged. Free. mpdowntown.com/events.

Wheeling’s Taste of the Town: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. About two dozen vendors offering bite-size tastings from their menus and bars. $35 in advance, $45 at the door. wheelingareachamber.com.

Creepy Cryptids Art Workshop: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the College of Lake County Lakeshore Campus, 111 N. Genesee St., Room N015, Waukegan. Community art workshop to celebrate Halloween with creepy cryptids. Free. clcillinois.edu.

HOKA Halloween Fun Run and Walk: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 34 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Run or walk two to three miles along the Downtown Naperville Riverwalk, followed by pizza, costume contests, raffle prizes and more. Free. runningcompany.com.

Lake Park Film Appreciation Society: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Lake Park High School West Campus auditorium, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Roselle. Screening of the 1933 Pre-Code sci-fi horror film “The Invisible Man,” starring Claude Rains. Free popcorn, post-show discussion and trivia with prizes. Free. facebook.com/LPHSDramaProductions/.

Thursday, Oct. 30

Downtown Geneva Trick-or-Treating: 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Kids can trick-or-treat at participating downtown Geneva businesses. Costumes encouraged. Free. geneva.il.us.

Boo Bash: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee. Mallwide trick-or-treating, a photo booth and more. Free. simon.com/mall/gurnee-mills.

Spooktacular Fun Night: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Westmont Community Center, 75 E. Richmond St., Westmont. Kids 2-10 can trick-or-treat through the Community Center. Free. westmontparks.org.

Pumpkin Splash: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at The Water Works, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Swim with pumpkins and pick a pumpkin, DJ entertainment and a goody bag filled with treats. Kids younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult during the event. $15-$20. parkfun.com/event/pumpkin-splash.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra Dia de los Muertos: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Commemorate loved ones at a concert featuring vocalist José Carlos Díaz. Face painting, crafts, an ofrenda, food trucks and more at 5:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk on the history of Dia de los Muertos at 6:30 p.m. $25, $5 for students, free tickets for ages 17 and younger. elginsymphony.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. No registration required. Free. napervilleparks.org/knochknollsnaturecenter.

Goebbert’s Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Thursday, 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, and 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. 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 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.

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.

“The Haunting of Hill House”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 8 at Village Guild Theatre, 2S720 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. A group of supernatural investigators journey to the ominous Hill House. $25. villagetheatreguild.com.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience: Various times through Nov. 2 (except Oct. 27-28) at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Highway 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 offers food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12 and $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.

Lumenaura: Through Sunday, Oct. 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. Free. yourvoice.aurora.il.us/lumenaura.