Suburbs scare up some terrifying fun for Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, and it's time to get your scare on.

From spooky shows to haunted fests, seasonal festivities are in full swing around the Chicago suburbs. Here are 10 ideas to help you get into the (haunted) spirit.

Fall Festival and Fables Fright Nights at Santa's Village

The East Dundee amusement park's fall festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends through October. Families can enjoy unlimited rides, live shows, animal encounters and more. There are Halloween contests and trick-or-treating, and a costume parade will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30.

In the evenings, the park hosts Fables Fright Nights, presented by Fables Studios. The immersive experience, open from 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 11 p.m. Sundays in October, features four haunted attractions with Hollywood-quality sets, where park areas have been transformed into scare zones.

Info: Santa's Village Azoosment Park, 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. Fall fest: General park admission starts at $22.75. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com/. Fables Fright Nights: General admission is $30. See fablesfrightnights.com/ for tickets.

Mayhem in the Mansion at Mayslake Peabody Estate

Here's a unique opportunity to party in a "haunted" mansion - the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. Enjoy a special event featuring drinks, appetizers, costume contests, fortunetellers, a "blood bank" wine pull and tours of the historic estate.

The adults-only Halloween event begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, kicking off with a performance of "Dr. Seward's Dracula" by First Folio Theatre. A cocktail reception runs from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the mansion. The estate, operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, is the subject of numerous legends, including rumors of glass coffins holding the remains of the original owner.

Info: First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Tickets, which include the show and party (two drinks per person), cost $69. Party-only tickets cost $40. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org/.

Boo! at the Zoo

The popular Brookfield Zoo Halloween festival returns from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this weekend and next offering plenty of family-friendly activities. New this year are trick-or-treat stations, presented by Ferrara Candy Company, with Halloween-themed backdrops ideal for photos.

Kids can learn about creepy critters like scorpions, bats, giant spiders and snakes during special zoo chats with staff. Watch when wolves, grizzly bears, gorillas and sloth bears receive special pumpkin treats. Festivities also include the Pumpkin Smasher pulverizing pumpkins, a professional pumpkin carver, a costume parade, haunted hayrides, a corn maze, festive crafts and more.

Info: Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield. (708) 688-8000 or brookfieldzoo.org. General admission is $17.85 for adults and $12.50 for kids 3-11 and seniors. Parking is $11.

Dia de los Muertos: The Dance of Life and Death

Chicago Sinfonietta's Dia de los Muertos event is a joyful and slightly offbeat celebration featuring the music of Beethoven, Mussorgsky and Golijov, seen alongside rare silent films from the 1930s. The Mexican Day of the Dead holiday honors departed loved ones and celebrates the spirits they've left behind.

"The Dance of Life and Death" concert, held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, explores themes of loss, transformation, humor and celebration through music and films presented in partnership with Chicago Film Archives.

The West Suburban Friends of Chicago Sinfonietta will host a preconcert Dia de los Muertos dinner and fundraising event at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

Info: Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Concert tickets start at $10. chicagosinfonietta.org/ or (312) 284-1554.

Svengoolie at Volo Auto Museum

Stop by the Volo Auto Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, to meet Rich Koz, the Emmy Award-winning TV personality best known as Svengoolie. Sporting his trademark top hat and dark eye circles, Koz will take pictures with guests and sign autographs during his fifth annual visit to Volo.

"He brings in people who would never ordinarily come to an auto museum, and they always love it," said museum director Brian Grams. "I often hear people say 'I only came to see Svengoolie. I don't care about cars. But ... this place is so cool.'"

Guests can check out vehicles from classic films including "Ghostbusters," "Alien" and Stephen King's "Christine." Haunted train tours run on weekends in October; the 35-minute rides feature the "true ghost stories of the property," which is said to be haunted by a Civil War soldier who is buried in a nearby cemetery.

Info: Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Admission is $15 for adults, $9 for kids 5-12. (815) 385-3644 or volocars.com/.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America

It's the 25th anniversary of Fright Fest in Gurnee, and the event is bigger and scarier than ever. This year, there are more zombies, scarier haunted walk-throughs and creepier shows, organizers say.

"Fright Fest is reborn again in 2016 for our biggest haunt yet with no mercy after 6 p.m., two new haunted houses and two spectacular new shows," said operations director Dameon Nelson. "All of this comes with your favorite characters, including the lumberjacks, clowns, werewolves and the most complete Halloween event anywhere in the world."

The all-new Big Top Terror features demented clowns; Infestation features rats, spiders, snakes and other creatures lurking around; and the world's first interactive virtual reality gaming experience allows fans to save the world from an army of terrorizing winged creatures.

Info: Six Flags Great America, 1 Great American Parkway, Gurnee. Daily admission starts at $46.99. (847) 249-1776 or frightfest.sixflags.com/greatamerica/.

'The Maltese Falcon' at Improv Playhouse

The actors at Improv Playhouse - a training ground in Libertyville for aspiring performers and comedians - regularly re-enact radio productions based on classic literature and old broadcast shows.

Now, just in time for Halloween, they'll be re-enacting the iconic Oscar-winning film "The Maltese Falcon" as it celebrates its 75th anniversary. The performance will be staged as an old-time radio drama, immersing audiences into the world of the 1941 film noir classic that starred Humphrey Bogart as a private eye who gets mixed up in a hunt for a jewel-encrusted statuette.

"While abundantly suspenseful and macabre, audiences will be introduced to a different perspective in the spirit of Halloween," says David Brian Stuart, executive producer and owner of Improv Playhouse.

The show, which is BYOB, begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct 29. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes.

Info: Improv Playhouse, 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Pre-sale tickets cost $10 for adults; $5 for students and military. At the door: Cash only; $20 for adults. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com/.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND

Spooky monsters and skeletons take over LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg for the annual kid-friendly Halloween celebration. This year's festivities include glow-in-the dark LEGO build challenges and Halloween-themed mini models. Learn how to build a LEGO werewolf model and take photos with Halloween models, like a giant pumpkin. Children who wear costumes receive $5 off general admission.

Info: LEGOLAND Discovery Center, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. Admission is $19; discounts available. (847) 592-9700 or legolanddiscoverycenter.com/chicago/.

Janus Theatre's 'Tales From Poe II: Into the Dark'

The ninth season of Janus Theatre Company's Walkabout: Theater on Your Feet series stars the short stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe. The Elgin theater is featuring "Tales From Poe II: Into The Dark" Friday through Sunday, Oct. 28-30, with tour guides leading guests to various downtown locations, where they'll see stories come alive through performance.

The starting spot for this year's tours is the Elgin Public House; the final destination is Mama Lee's Popcorn, with free samples for participants. Daytime and evening tours are offered. The theater company first presented a Poe lineup in 2012, utilizing various spaces above and below ground throughout downtown Elgin.

"This year, we will take the subterranean idea further, leading our audiences to some spaces that they have never seen," said Walkabout creator and Janus Theatre Artistic Director Sean Hargadon.

Info: "Tales From Poe II: Into The Dark" evening tours start at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, running every 15 minutes until 8 p.m. Daylight tours start at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30, running every 15 minutes until 3 p.m. Tickets cost $16 and can be purchased at janusplays.com/ or elginwalkaboutpoe.eventbrite.com.

Fall Color Festival at Morton Arboretum

The Lisle arboretum has plenty of fall fun in store for tree fans. The fest includes a scarecrow trail around Meadow Lake, special bat presentations and Trick or Trees in the Children's Garden from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends in October, where kids can play games, make fall crafts and plant tree seeds to take home. Small pumpkins are available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged.

For families, a BOO Breakfast buffet, which will include visits from favorite characters, runs from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30, in the Ginkgo Restaurant. Tickets cost $33 member/$38 nonmember for those 13 and older; $27 member/$31 nonmember for kids 3-12; and free for kids younger than 3.

Info: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. General admission starts at $14 for adults. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.