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Parades, Trick-or-Treating and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

Slightly Spooky Saturdays: Family Halloween. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Slightly Spooky Saturdays: Family Halloween. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
10/23/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

It's a spooktacular weekend to be a kid in Chicago! Halloween is still a week away, but you can already enjoy some of the season's best events. Check out the parades in Glen Ellyn, River West, or Logan Square, and hit up the trick-or-treating events in Wheaton, Andersonville, or Evanston. You can also remember the thrill of childhood Halloweens with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese for its Boo-Tackular in various locations throughout the Chicago area.

Plan your Halloween route with our list of the best Chicago neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Or celebrate the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness with one of our favorite Diwali events.

Hope you have a fantastic fall weekend!

More Things To Do in Chicago This Week With Kids

BOO-seum Bash event. Photo courtesy of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
BOO-seum Bash event. Photo courtesy of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Best Things To Do This Weekend in Chicago With Kids

Boo-tacular at Chuck E. Cheese

Various locations
Friday, October 25-Sunday, October 27
Halloween Boo-Tacular is a monthlong, kid-friendly Halloween celebration at Chuck E. Cheese. Enjoy specialty Halloween menu items, dance at the daily Haunted House Party show, and take advantage of free game play and e-ticket offers. READ MORE

Addison Park District Candy Carnival

Addison
Friday, October 25
Kids can play games to win candy at this annual event. Kids receive an extra treat for coming in costume. Inflatables, crafts, and games round out the fun. Parents must accompany their children at this event. READ MORE

Pumpkins in the Woods

Winnetka
Friday, October 25
Hubbard Woods is transformed into a magical pumpkin patch where kids can decorate pumpkins, play carnival games, bounce through inflatables, listen to music from a DJ, and participate in a costume contest. The whole family can enjoy this Halloween event. READ MORE

Ackerman Spook Trail

Glen Ellyn
Friday, October 25
Take a walk along the spook trail to enjoy Halloween-themed games. Refreshments will be available from local vendors. From 4-6pm., the trail will be non-scary and geared toward younger children. From 6-8pm, it will be spookier for kids 11 and up. READ MORE

Pumpkin Palooza

Naperville
Saturday, October 26
Kids can celebrate the season by coming in costume to the DuPage Children's Museum for STEAM-themed, non-scary activities. Build your own Franken buddy from recycled toys, create wearable art, brew your own slime, and mix and mash pumpkin guts! READ MORE

Slightly Spooky Saturdays: Family Halloween

Downtown - FREE
Saturday, October 26
Halloween takes over Navy Pier! Families can enjoy circus acts, mad scientist demos, axe throwing, a costume contest, face-painting demos, and more at shops and restaurants around the Pier. READ MORE

Diwali: The Festival of Lights

Naperville
Saturday, October 26
Enjoy Indian culture, food, music, performances, clothing, jewelry, and more at Metea Valley High School. The event includes vendors, food, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Monster Mash at Yorktown Center

Lombard - FREE
Saturday, October 26
The ultimate family-friendly Halloween event is packed with ghoulish delights for kids of all ages. Come in your most spooktacular costume (dogs in costume welcome too!) and enjoy an afternoon of fang-tastic activities! READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Halloween Spooktacular Festival and Parade

Glen Ellyn - FREE
Saturday, October 26
Join in the parade in downtown Glen Ellyn before trick-or-treating at local businesses. Kids can also play games and make crafts in the downtown area. READ MORE

Downtown Wheaton Trick or Treating

Wheaton - FREE
Saturday, October 26
Wear your Halloween costume and visit downtown Wheaton businesses to trick-or-treat a few days early. Kids can also look for spooky signs throughout the downtown as part of the I Spy scavenger hunt. READ MORE

BOO-seum Bash

Lincoln Park
Saturday, October 26
Trick or Treat! It's time to have some merry mischief at the museum! Join us for an afternoon of animal encounters, crafts, and Halloween fun. Slither up with the museum's spectacular snakes, get curious with some creepy crawly bugs, and dig into the boneyard of the Nature Museum's collections! Costumes are encouraged! READ MORE

Aville-o-Ween

Andersonville - FREE
Saturday, October 26
Trick-or-treat at local businesses on and around Catalpa Street. Treats will include candy apples, gourds, and pie pumpkins. Plus, kids can get a picture with Spiderman and maybe some other costumed characters at Alley Cat Comics. READ MORE

Gangnam Market Kids Halloween Parade

River West - FREE
Saturday, October 26
Gangnam Market invites kids to grab their costumes and join the fun! The parade steps off at 11am outside the back driveway entrance, and a kid-sized Chinese dragon will lead the parade around the block and into the front entrance for indoor trick-or-treating up and down the aisles where candy, snacks, and treats will be given away, plus free mini pumpkins for the first 100 kids. READ MORE

Spooky Saturday on the Main-Dempster Mile

Evanston - FREE
Saturday, October 26
North suburban families can enjoy live music and a pumpkin carving contest to celebrate fall along the Main-Dempster Mile. Trick-or-treat at local businesses and participate in a kid or pet costume parade. Music from SCarolers will add to the fun. READ MORE

Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood

Lincoln Square - FREE
Sunday, October 27
Lincoln Square and Ravenswood transform into Lincoln Scared and Ravenswooooooood for early trick-or-treating. Businesses hand out candy and other treats, and a pumpkin decorating station sets up on Damen Avenue. READ MORE

Trick or Treating at Naper Settlement

Naperville
Sunday, October27
Trick or treat at Naper Settlement's historic houses, stroll down pumpkin lane, and watch a blacksmith in action at this Halloween event at Naper Settlement. Children must be accompanied by an adult. READ MORE

Logan Square Halloween Parade

Logan Square - FREE
Sunday, October 27
This community event is attended by hundreds each year, marching from the Illinois Centennial Memorial south on Kedzie to Fullerton, then turning around to end at Cafe Lula with free cider and cookies for kids. Mucca Pazza will once again lead the event! READ MORE

Blue Man Group Halloween Performance

Lincoln Park
Sunday, October 27
Blue Man Group Chicago invites visitors to celebrate the scariest season of the year with a special Halloween-themed performance at the Briar Street Theatre that includes pre-show face painting in the lobby, Halloween-inspired surprises during the show, and celebratory goodie bags for all children under age 17. Halloween costumes are encouraged for all audience members. After the performance, audience members will be invited to the theater lobby for photo opportunities with the Blue Men.  READ MORE

Proesel Park Trunk-or-Treat

Lincolnwood - FREE
Sunday, October 27
Treats, games and spooky fun are on hand at Lincolnwood's Proesel Park this Halloween. All children must be accompanied by an adult. READ MORE
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