Festivals and Fairs
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Gurnee Parks to hold 3rd annual Halloween Fall Fest Oct. 11Oct 08, 2025 11:16 am - Gurnee Park District, in partnership with the village of Gurnee, will hold its third annual Halloween Fall Fest from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Hunt Club Park and inside Hunt Club Park Community Center.
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Things to do Oct. 10-16: Glass Pumpkin Patch, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura and moreOct 06, 2025 4:01 pm - Mark your calendar for Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura in Aurora, “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” in Ingleside, Fall Festival at Danada, Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and more.
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Bark BBQ ushers in Halloween season with Barktober FestOct 06, 2025 1:35 pm - Halloween isn’t just for humans. Thanks to Bark BBQ, an Arlington Heights business near the Buffalo Grove border, pets were also able to get into the act during Barktober Fest.
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Fall festival attracts crowds to Randhurst VillageOct 04, 2025 3:08 pm - The Randhurst Village Fall Fest returned Saturday to Mount Prospect bringing with it summerlike temperatures.
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Celebrate tradition at the 40th annual St. Charles Scarecrow WeekendOct 01, 2025 5:05 pm - The 40th annual St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend features the popular scarecrow contest with over 120 creative entries across four categories, displayed along Riverside Avenue, Lincoln Park, and First Street.
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Celebrating 200 years of Norwegian immigration to America on Oct. 3-5Oct 01, 2025 11:46 am - A 200-year celebration of Norwegian immigration to America is taking place in Norway, Illinois, featuring Norwegian food, music, crafts, and educational displays.
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Best Bets: ‘Forbidden Forest’ welcomes Harry Potter fans and Naper Settlement celebrates OktoberfestOct 01, 2025 9:41 am - “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” thrills fans starting this weekend, Naper Settlement hosts Oktoberfest, Karen Mason headlines a special tribute to Davenport’s at the Skokie Theatre, and “Carmina Burana” comes to the MAC.
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Monochronicle curating Aurora’s second annual Lumenaura, an art & light festivalOct 01, 2025 7:15 am - Aurora’s second annual Lumenaura on Oct. 10-26 featuring cutting-edge light installations and interactive experiences by national and international artists.It showcases innovative artworks like responsive light sculptures, laser graffiti, enchanted fountains, and installations that react to human presence, transforming public spaces.
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Oktoberfest celebration at Naper Settlement: Beer, brats, and live musicSep 30, 2025 11:50 pm - Naper Settlement's annual Oktoberfest features traditional German cuisine, beer, and music on Oct. 3-4.
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Things to do Oct. 3-9: Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Cider and Ale Festival, Oktoberfests and moreSep 30, 2025 9:47 am - Mark your calendar for the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Harmony Fest Featuring the Taste of Arlington Heights, the Morton Arboretum’s Cider and Ale Festival, Oktoberfests, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden and more.