Festivals: Pumpkin and Halloween happenings, Nightmare on Chicago Street, All Hallows Eve & more

This weekend

Fall Color Festival and Scarecrow Trail: 7 a.m. to sunset daily through Oct. 31 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. See scarecrow creations from local Scout troops set up around Meadow Lake and vote for your favorite. Free with Arboretum admission: $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for kids 2-17, and free for kids 1 and younger. mortonarb.org.

Autumn Drive: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 19-21, at 16105 Garden Valley Road, Woodstock. 31st annual event featuring family farms open to the public, selling produce, pumpkins, honey, jam, soaps, vinegars, pottery, lawn ornaments, crafts and antiques; different items for sale at each stop. Plus, tractor rides, petting zoo, hayrides, apple and pumpkin launchers, entertainment and food. Free admission. www.autumndrive.net.

Cosley Zoo Pumpkin Fest: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Animals on display, straw pyramid, children's rides and lots of pumpkins on the zoo lawn. $7 adults, $6 seniors, and free for kids, Wheaton Park District residents and zoo members. cosleyzoo.org.

Didier Farms Pumpkinfest: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 30 at Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire. Hayrides, corn maze, pony rides, Animal Land, pig races, Pumpkin Playland, Sunshine Crafts and more. Free admission; activities require tickets. didierfarms.com/pumpkinfest.

Randall Oaks Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 28 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Hay bale maze, corn bin play area, fall treats and pumpkins for purchase and face painting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $3-$5. Weekends only: Pumpkin Enrichment for the Animals, bonfires from noon to 5 p.m. and hayrides for $2. Activities are included with zoo admission, with some exceptions. $3.25 residents; $4 nonresidents; free for kids younger than 2. (847) 428-7131 or dtpd.org.

Boo! at the Zoo: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. The annual Halloween celebration features a corn maze, giant pumpkin-carving demonstrations, a costume parade and contest, and Halloween-themed crafts and activities. Included in admission of $15.95-$21.95. www.czs.org/boo.

Pumpkin Weekends: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28 at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Family-friendly fall festivities include the pumpkin princess, seasonal crafts, harvest decor, giant corn crib, professional storyteller, world's tallest scarecrow, trick-or-treating and a pony parade. $7. www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Monster's Bash: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Weiss Community Center, 1500 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. Wear your best costume to the annual Halloween event hosted by River Trails Park District. Decorate pumpkins, trick-or-treat through the Halloween town and play carnival games. Jump into the photo booth to take some scary or funny pictures. Free. (847) 255-1200 or www.rtpd.org.

Pumpkins in the Woods: 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Road, Winnetka. Hubbard Woods Park will be transformed into a pumpkin patch for the family, with pumpkin decorating, carnival games, bounce houses, a DJ, a costume contest and more. Costume contest registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. Pumpkins will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 for residents and $10 for nonresidents. www.winpark.org.

Trunk or Treat: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Learning Experience Bolingbrook, 1281 W. 115th St., Bolingbrook. Crafts, activities, food and trunk-or-treating. Free. www.eventbrite.com.

Halloween Happening: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at 1777 S. Blanchard St., Wheaton. Costume parade, "Trunk or Treat" and trick-or-treat Trail. Free with small fees for some activities. wheatonparkdistrict.com.

Six Flags Great America Fright Fest: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28; and 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, and Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 29-31, at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Daytime hours are family-friendly, with shows and a trick-or-treat trail. Evening hours include haunted houses and costumed monsters. $57.99-$77.99 at the park. For admission deals, see sixflags.com/greatamerica.

Family Night: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, "Teal Pumpkin" stop for those not wanting candy. Free; parking is $5. cantigny.org/event/family-night/.

Halloween Spooktacular: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Park Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview. Indoor Halloween party for kids 2 to 10 includes inflatables, entertainment in the Lakeview Room, face painting, creepy crafts and ghoulish games. Costumes are optional. Parents must accompany children. Snacks for purchase. $10. www.glenviewparks.org.

Hallow-Palooza: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville. Dress in your best costume for an evening of family fun and surprises. Activities include a photo booth, a treasure hunt, an indoor driving range, spooky storytime, bounce house, games, magic show, pumpkin patch (while supplies last) and more. $10 at the door. (847) 428-7131 or dtpd.org.

Halloween at the Y: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Foglia YMCA, 1025 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich. Open to both members and nonmembers, featuring spooky but family-friendly activities: haunted house, petting zoo, pony rides, Trick-or-Treat Lane, inflatables, carnival games and prizes, costume parade, healthy snacks and more. Kids $10, adults $5 in advance; kids $15, adults $5 on site; free for kids younger than 2. www.waucondachamber.org.

Halloween Happening: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Iowa Community Center, 338 N. Iowa, Villa Park. Trick-or-treating, crafts, activities and a bubble show. $5 preregistration, $8 day-of registration. invillapark.com.

Haunted Canal Hayride: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20 and 26-27, at Safety Village, 55 Stephen St., Lemont. Haunted Canal Hayride along Lemont's Historic I&M Canal. Kids younger than 12 must be accompanied by a paid adult. $10. www.sd113afoundation.org.

Halloween Hikes: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at Edward L. Ryerson Welcome Center, 21950 N. Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods. Join a guided group hike along a candlelit path to watch nature-themed skits, followed by doughnuts and cider. Tours leave every half-hour. Register in advance. $9 for residents, $11 for nonresidents, free for kids 3 and younger. www.lcfpd.org.

Itasca Haunted Trail: 6 to 7 p.m. family hour and 7 to 10 p.m. "active scaring" on Friday, Oct. 19, at Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary on Rohlwing Road, Itasca. Haunted Trail at the new Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary with the one-third-mile loop. $5, $2 for repeat trips. Cash only. www.itascaparkdistrict.com.

All Hallows Eve: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Experience two of the darkest nights of the year with 12 acres of haunting creatures, eerie entertainment and must-see horrors. $20. napersettlement.org.

Haunted Hike: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20 and 26-27, Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. The 28th annual Haunted Hike, "Haunted Hallowdayz," will feature holidays gone wrong. $15. tfchauntedhike.org.

Halloween Party: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale. Visit the Bloomingdale Fire and Police Departments, the library and the park district for a variety of activities ranging from arts and crafts to trick-or-treating to hay mazes. Free. www.bloomingdaleparks.org.

Corn Harvest: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride out to the fields and help shuck and store the corn that will feed the farm's cows and sheep over winter. Free. (630) 876-5900.

Doggy Trick or Treat: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at 225 E. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village. Dogs will have an opportunity to perform tricks for a chance to win treats by participating in the obstacle course and other challenges or in the Halloween Parade. All owners will receive a souvenir picture and a goody bag. Registration is required; all dogs must be leashed. $10-$12. www.elkgroveparks.org.

Itty Bitty Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Village Green Fountain, 100-300 Village Green Drive, Lincolnshire. Pick out a free pumpkin and decorate it with paint, stickers and glitter. Halfday Brewing will offer free kids' pizzas with purchase of an adult entree. Register to get a free pumpkin. Find Itty Bitty Pumpkin Patch on Facebook.

Pumpkin Train: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20-21, at Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union. Pick up your pumpkin by train and enjoy some family-themed Halloween fun. Kids encouraged to come in costume for a special treat. $11; $9 for seniors; $8 for kids. www.irm.org.

Touch the Trucks: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 20, at Cook Park Library, Brainerd and Church streets, Libertyville. Church Street will close so guests can explore and climb aboard all types of community service vehicles and meet their drivers. Scared by loud noises? From 10 to 11 a.m., enjoy quiet Touch the Trucks with no sirens, horns, bells, etc. Free. cooklib.org

Treat the Streets and AC Faire: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in downtown Antioch. Fall Arts & Crafts Faire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; trick-or-treating from noon to 2 p.m.; Monster Bash from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bandshell; Weiner Races at 1:30 p.m.; Pumpkin Roll at 2:30 p.m.; Costume Contest at 3:15 p.m. Free. www.antioch.il.gov or www.antiochchamber.org.

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade: 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Willow Stream Park, 651 Old Checker Road, Buffalo Grove. Join a 1½-mile walk, followed by a canine costume contest and doggy egg hunt. Prizes will be given to the best costume and best family themed costume. Free. bgparks.org.

Pumpkin Trolley: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28 at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. Ride an old-time electric trolley car to the pumpkin patch and choose a pumpkin for $2 to take home. All children get a small treat. $5, $3 for 65 or older, $2 for kids 3-11. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org.

Great Pumpkin Hunt and Decoration: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Raupp Museum, 901 Dunham Lane, Buffalo Grove. Kids 3-12 start indoors for pumpkin decorating, then participants will enjoy a pumpkin egg hunt in the grassy backyard. Everyone is invited to explore the museum. Preregistration is required. $10-$13. bgparks.org/event/fall/pumpkin-hunt.aspx.

Itasca Trick-or-Treat Trail: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary on Rohlwing Road, Itasca. Kids 12 and younger, along with their parents, can walk the trail and receive treats. Free. www.itascaparkdistrict.com.

Bloomingdale Halloween Party: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Bloomingdale Public Library, 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale. Activities, games, balloon artists, trick-or-treating, crafts and refreshments. Free. mybpl.org.

Cider and Ale Festival: 1 p.m. to sunset Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Savor hard cider and seasonal beers from more than 45 local breweries and cideries while listening to live music. $50, $40 for members; VIP admission with noon entry is $70; $60 general admission; designated driver $15. Tickets at the door an additional $5. mortonarb.org.

Randhurst Village Fall Fest Pet Parade: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Randhurst Village, 1 Randhurst Village Drive, Mount Prospect. Show off your spooky pup and get a goody bag. Free admission. www.eventbrite.com.

Fall Festival at Newcity: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at 1457 N. Halsted, Chicago. The outdoor fest at Newcity plaza features pumpkin decorating, a balloon twister, doughnuts and apple cider and fall-themed carnival games. Free admission. (312) 248-8569 or experiencenewcity.com.

Fall Festival of Fun: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge. Come in costume to enjoy mallwide trick-or-treating, inflatable corn maze, face painting, balloon twisting and more. Free. www.shopburrridge.com.

Great Pumpkin Celebration: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Robert W. Rolek Community Center, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake. Family fun including indoor trick-or-treating, face painting, bounce house, corn maze, hayrides, carnival games and more. Free. (847) 546-8558 or rlapd.org.

Boo Bash: 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at West Chicago Park District's ARC Center, 201 W. National St. in Reed-Keppler Park. Costume contests, carnival games, fitness obstacle course, glow-in-the-dark activities and balloon shows. $6 preregistration, $10 day-of for kids; adults free with a child. we-goparks.org.

Children's Halloween Spooktacular: 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Pumpkin Walk, Mummify Me competition, and BOO bingo, indoor trick-or-treating, costume contest and parade for prizes. Free for guests, $5 for nonguests. www.pheasantrun.com.

Lakemoor Trunk-or-Treat: 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Heritage Park, 32250 Darrell Road, Lakemoor. Free event with candy, prizes and contests. www.lakemoor.net

Naperville Kids Marathon: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Naperville North High School stadium, 899 N. Mill St., Naperville. Third annual event where kids walk or run 1 mile with adult supervision 25 times over the summer and on race day, they get to run the final 1.2 miles in a race setting. All kids will receive a medal after they finish. $20. runnaperville.com.

Ragdale's Rags to Witches: 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Ragdale, 1230 N. Green Bay Road, Lake Forest. Creative Halloween experience with performances, art projects, games and seasonal tastings throughout the haunted estate, including a scavenger hunt through the pet cemetery, costume contest, storytelling and more. From 6 to 8 p.m. the event becomes an "After Dark" party for teens and adults. Daytime tickets in advance: $20 adults, $15 kids, $60 per household (limit 4); at the door: $25 adults, $20 kids. After Dark tickets are $40 or upgrade a daytime ticket for $25. ragdale.org.

Wheaton Haunted Flea Market: 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 20, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Featuring special guest Hollywood stunt performer and actor Robert Mukes, music, entertainment, vendors and food. $7, free for kids 12 and younger; free parking. www.zurkopromotions.com.

All Hallow's Eve: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. Celebrate a historic Halloween with TnT Paranormal Investigators, food and drinks. Not feeling brave? Join the Lights On events from 4 to 6 p.m. that include a storyteller, crafts and a costume parade. $6-$10. www.ahmuseum.org.

Monster Madness: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Lisle Recreation Center, 1925 Ohio St., Lisle. Autumn fun fair with games and goodies. Win prizes, visit the pumpkin patch and meet animals at the petting zoo. Dress in costume. A punch card with 25 punches is $10. www.lisleparkdistrict.org/specialevents.html.

Zombie Apocalypse: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Wheeler Park, 822 N. First St., Geneva. Navigate the land of the undead while avoiding rampant zombies trying to take your life (aka flags). Participants will be divided into flights and start approximately five minutes apart from each other. Each flight will be led by a trained guide. Space is limited. Suggested for ages 11 and older. Preregistration before Oct. 20 is $10, $15 for nonresidents; day of: $12, $18. Family-friendly from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for kids 10 and younger. genevaparks.org.

Ghost Story Train: 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 20 and 27, at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. Ride to the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve to listen to spooky stories and sing campfire songs while eating s'mores. Costumes welcome. Suitable for all ages. $16.50; reservations required. (847) 697-4676 or foxtrolley.org.

The Haunted Forest Tour: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Diane Main Park, 230 W 59th St., Westmont. Participants will start the tour with a walking portion, then take hay wagon ride. $6. www.facebook.com/events/2159571974266761.

Waukegan Annual ZombieWauk: 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Jack Benny Plaza, Genesee Street, Waukegan. Art shows, cosplay, food, entertainment including Metal on the Rocks with local metal acts and more. Free. artwauk.com.

Nightmare on Chicago Street: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, on Chicago Street, between Douglas Avenue and Villa Street, Elgin. Elgin's annual Halloween party spans more than eight city blocks featuring four stages of entertainment, bands, food and drink vendors, live graffiti artists and special guests like Svengoolie. Ages 17 and younger not admitted without a parent/guardian. $12 in advance, $15 at the door or $25 with VIP parking. www.nightmareonchicagostreet.com.

Haunted Quarry: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Hall Quarry Beach Park, 400 S. Water St., Batavia. Admission is $10. Not suitable for kids 10 and younger. (630) 879-5235 or www.bataviaparks.org.

Haunted Trail Walk: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Northcroft Park, 1365 S. Ridge Road, Lake Forest. A self-guided walk through the haunted forest from Northcroft Park to Stirling Hall for ages 12 and older, with creepy creatures, spooky sounds and scary sights. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Afterward join the bonfire at Stirling Hall with hot apple cider and s'mores. A shuttle will be provided from Stirling Hall back to Northcroft Park. Free, but registration is encouraged. www.LFParksandRec.com.

River Trails Fall Festival: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. Storytelling, beekeeping demos, pumpkin painting, honey, hay rides and more. Bring nonperishable food items to donate to The Greater Chicago Food Depository in exchange for activity tickets; one ticket per item. Free admission; fees for some activities. fpdcc.com.

Tricks And Treats: 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1808 Miller Road, Crystal Lake. A community bonfire, bobbing for swinging apples, costume contest, hay rides, face painting and candy hunting in the woods. Free. Email officemanagerlw@sbcglobal.net or call (815) 455-2424.

Pumpkin Flotilla Fest: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Live music, games, pumpkin-carving demonstration, trackless train rides, bounce houses, free canoe rides and lit Pumpkin Flotilla at dusk. Free. www.gepark.org.

This week

Boo-riffic Music & Dance Party: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Cantigny Park Visitor's Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Songs and musical activities about the Halloween season, plus pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating. $10-$12. cantigny.org.

Cruise Night at Iron Gate Motor Plaza: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Iron Gate Motor Condos, 2104 Ferry Road, Naperville. Meet fellow car enthusiasts for music, cars, food truck and fun. All donations benefit Cal's Angels to end pediatric cancer. Free. www.irongatemotorcondos.com.

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 24-28, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See more than 1,000 LED-lit jack-o'-lanterns along a festive, paved pathway where visitors will encounter entertaining characters and watch live carving. $11-$18. www.chicagobotanic.org/halloween.

Great Barrington Area TasteFest: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Onion Pub and Brewery, 22221 N. Pepper Road, Lake Barrington. Sample offerings from nearly 30 restaurants, microbrewers, wineries and distillers. The first 400 guests receive a collectible TasteFest glass at the door. Live entertainment. $35 in advance; $40 at the door. www.barringtonnchamber.com.

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival: Event times vary Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 24-28, in downtown Sycamore. 57th annual festival, with the theme, "A Pumpkin Carnival," features hundreds of decorated pumpkins, teen and kiddie carnivals, scary stories, Autumn Craft and Treasures Market, giant pumpkins and more. Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Free. sycamorepumpkinfestival.com.

Downtown Halloween Trick-Or-Treating: 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in downtown Geneva. A safe trick-or-treating event throughout the central business district. Check store windows for signs indicating participating businesses. Free. www.geneva.il.us.