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Top Free Halloween Events In Chicago 2025: Trick-or-Treating, Free Movies, and More

Lincoln Park Spooktacular! Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Park Spooktacular! Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
9/26/25 - By Maureen Wilkey

Hitting up one of the fun, FREE Halloween events in Chicago for kids means your wallets can catch a break after all the cash spent on costumes, candy, and decorations. We've curated a list of the best free Halloween events in Chicago: Think trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating from Lincoln Square to Lemont, parades downtown and in the suburbs, and movies in Chicago. There are also plenty of other festive events around Chicago for you to check out—like circus acts and mad scientist demos at Navy Pier or a tiny pumpkin scavenger hunt in South Holland.

It's also nearly time to pick out the best pumpkins for carving, so plan to check out one of our favorite pumpkin patches before the crowds show up. Or have some seasonal fun, with just enough thrill, by getting lost in a corn maze. And check out our Halloween Fun Guide for even more things to do in Chicago.

Here are our favorite free Halloween activities in Chicago for kids!

Aville-o-Ween. Photo courtesy of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Aville-o-Ween. Photo courtesy of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce

Free Trick-or-Treating Events Near Chicago

Itasca Trick or Treat Trail

Itasca
Saturday, October 18
Walk the trail around the Springbrook Nature Center to receive crafts and treats from local businesses. Costumes are encouraged! READ MORE

Lemonster Days Trick-or-Treating Downtown Lemont

Lemont
Saturday, October 25
The Village of Lemont hosts its annual Halloween costume contest, parade and downtown trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Spooky Zoo

Lincoln Park
Saturday, October 18
Kids can trick-or-treat for sustainably sourced candy at Lincoln Park Zoo from 10am until the candy runs out. Kids can enjoy free carousel rides, spooky chats and learning activities, and fall rides and attractions to keep the party going. READ MORE

Downtown Wheaton Trick or Treating

Wheaton
Saturday, October 25
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

Aville-o-Ween

Andersonville
Saturday, October 25
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

Lincoln Park Spooktacular 2025

Lincoln Park
Saturday & Sunday, October 25-October 26
Trick-or-treat at select businesses along Lincoln Avenue between Wrightwood and Webster on Saturday or Clark Street on Sunday for the week before Halloween. Magicians, stilt walkers, and jugglers will meet and greet trick or treaters along the way. READ MORE

Trick or Treat at The Glen Town Center

Glenview
Saturday, October 25
Children 12 and under are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and TRICK-OR-TREAT from 3:00 to 5:00pm. Participating tenants will display a pumpkin in their storefront windows. There will also be live music and strolling entertainers. READ MORE

American Girl Trick-or-Treat

Magnificent Mile
Saturday, October 25, Sunday, October 26, and Friday, October 31
American Girl hosts a FREE trick-or-treat where kids who visit the store in costume will receive a sweet treat (while supplies last). READ MORE

Proesel Park Trunk-or-Treat

Lincolnwood
Sunday, October 26
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

Lincoln Scared and Ravenswoooooood

Lincoln Square and Ravenswood
Sunday, October 26
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 Treat at Paschen Park

Montclare
Friday, October 31
Kids can dress in their Halloween costumes to trick or treat at Paschen Park. Bring little ones in costume to celebrate the season. READ MORE

Blodgett House Boo Fest

Downers Grove
Friday, October 31
Families can avoid the rain (or snow) by trick-or-treating indoors at the Downers Grove Museum. The Victorian themed Blodgett House will be decorated for the occasion and will host a scavenger hunt. READ MORE

Park District of Forest Park Trunk or Treat

Forest Park
Saturday, October 25
Kids can trick-or-treat in a safe environment from the trunks of decorated cars at the Park District of Forest Park's Trunk or Treat event. Car owners will come dressed up and pass out candy from their vehicles. READ MORE

Park District of LaGrange Trunk or Treat

LaGrange
Saturday, October 18
Have a spooktacular good time at Sedgwick Park by trick-or-treating from the trunks of decorated cars. Halloween games, a balloon artist, and a face painter will complete the fun. READ MORE

Roselle American Legion Trunk or Treat

Roselle
Saturday, October 25
The Roselle American Legion and Rotary Club host their annual Trunk or Treat event. The party includes candy, music, games, and more. READ MORE
Fall Fest photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Zoo
Fall Fest photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Zoo

Free Halloween Festivals Near Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

Lincoln Park
September 26-October 28
Families can enjoy a walk through the pumpkin patch, a pumpkin-carving demonstration, and pumpkin-themed treats like a caramel apple station and a s'more station at Lincoln Park Zoo throughout October. READ MORE

Fall Fest at The Arb

South Barrington
Sunday, September 21
Bon Journeyed will take the stage at this event! Friends for over 30 years, Tyler Holcomb of ARRA & Matthew Pablecas of Oh Yes! join forces to create the Ultimate Bon Jovi/Journey experience!  The event also includes inflatable bull rides, big trucks, train Rides, face painting, balloon art, and  more! READ MORE

Skeletober

LaGrange
October 1-31
Downtown LaGrange celebrates Skeletober, a display of unique life-size decorated skeletons on the sidewalks of local businesses. Families can take pictures with the skeletons and participate in a skeleton scavenger hunt. Families can also enjoy live music at Milk Money Brewing. READ MORE

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival

Highwood
Friday, October 3-Sunday, October 5
Visit Highwood for all the pumpkin-based fun you could wish for. This three-day festival includes all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations, a carnival, live entertainment, a 5k, craft and food vendors, and pet and kid costume contests. READ MORE

Halloween Hoot 'n Howl

River Forest
Friday, October 3
Spooky animals take center stage at this event sponsored by the River Forest Park District, Trailside Museum, and River Forest Public Library. Kids 10 and under, accompanied by a parent, can see live native animals, listen to live music and spooky stories, make s'mores and hot chocolate around a bonfire, and paint pumpkins. READ MORE

Ghost Stories in the Park... In the Dark

Naperville
Friday, October 3-Sunday, October 5
Hear thrilling and chilling stories outdoors along the Naperville Riverwalk. Summer Place Theater puts on the show at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. This event is recommended for kids ages 5 and up, with an 8pm session on Saturday night for kids 12 and up. READ MORE

Caldwell Woods Pumpkin Palooza

Niles
Saturday, October 4
Families can enjoy nature's contributions to Halloween by painting pumpkins, playing gourd ring toss, making leaf rubbings, and running through a fall-themed obstacle course. READ MORE

Pumpkin Patch at Dvorak Park

Pilsen
Saturday, October 18
This family-friendly event is packed with seasonal excitement for all ages! Enjoy a FREE pumpkin (one per person while supplies last), meet adorable animals at the petting farm, and take a spin on pony rides. Kids can get creative with arts and crafts, fill their bags with treats at a Trunk or Treat, and brave the thrills of the spooky Haunted House. READ MORE

Elmhurst Family Fall Fest

Elmhurst
Saturday, October 4
Safety Town trick-or-treating, an inflatable corn maze obstacle course, and fall games are on hand for families at Wild Meadows Trace in Elmhurst. Families can stay for lunch to visit food trucks including Brown's Chicken, Nick's Woodfire Pizza Truck, Tacos El Amigazo, D's Treats and Ice Cream, and Smallcakes. Kids can also enjoy face painting and a balloon artist. READ MORE

Lombard Fall Fest

Lombard
Saturday, October 4
Kids can kick off the Halloween season at Lombard's annual fall event. Kids can enjoy games, dancing, face painting, and a candy hunt. The Lombard Community Building will host Boo Bingo from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. READ MORE

St. Charles Scarecrow Festival

St. Charles
Friday, October 10-Sunday, October 12
More than 100 handmade and mechanical scarecrows will be on display in downtown St. Charles for this 35th annual fall tradition. Families can make their own scarecrow, enjoy live entertainment, shop at the arts and crafts show, or ride carnival rides while enjoying the fall weather. READ MORE

Hinsdale Fall Family Fest

Hinsdale
Saturday, October 18
West suburban families can visit Burlington Park to paint pumpkins, enjoy giveaways from local businesses, visit food trucks, and trick-or-treat at downtown businesses. Inflatables and roaming entertainment will also be on hand. READ MORE

Wicker Park Boo-palooza and Bark-palooza

Wicker Park
Saturday, October 18
Families can help raise money for the Wicker Park "Gardens We Design" at this family-friendly Halloween event featuring kids' musicians, a costume parade, and a pumpkin patch and decorating area. Play games including pin-the-tail on various popular cartoons, find the "needle" in the haystack, or work your way through a straw maze. READ MORE

BOOmingdale Halloween Party

Bloomingdale
Saturday, October 18
Fall festivities abound at this event sponsored by the Bloomingdale Park District, Village of Bloomingdale, Bloomingdale Public Library, and Friends of the Bloomingdale Public Library. The Police and Fire Department will offer Halloween-themed building tours and trunk or treat while the library will host a hay maze, moon jump, balloon artist, face painter, and refreshments.   READ MORE

Haunted Hoffman Family Fest

Hoffman Estates
Saturday, October 18
Families can enjoy food trucks, Halloween-themed games, hay rides, live music, and stage events, a story walk, games, a bounce house, and a scenic hayride at this northwest suburban event. READ MORE

Forest Park Casket Races

Forest Park
Saturday, October 18
The Forest Park Casket Races is a delightfully eerie and offbeat annual event in downtown Forest Park, now celebrating its 13th year. Participants create their own "caskets," which are essentially coffin-shaped carts fitted with wheels and adorned in their favorite spooky decor.   READ MORE

Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt

Barrington
Sunday, October 26
Families can go on a self-guided hike to find Halloween clues around Crabtree Nature Center. Find all the clues to earn a treat! Costumes are encouraged but not required. READ MORE

Stars, Stories & S'mores

River Forest
Saturday, October 25
Enjoy a cozy fire, s'mores, a spooky story trail, and pumpkin painting in Thatcher Woods. Kids can also stargaze in their Halloween costumes at this Forest Preserve District event. READ MORE

Spooky Saturday on the Main-Dempster Mile

Evanston
Saturday, October 25
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

Slightly Spooky Saturday: Family Halloween

Downtown
Saturday, October 25
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

The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt

South Holland
Saturday, October 18
Discover all of the tiny pumpkins in Sand Ridge Nature Center in a scavenger hunt. Participants who find all the pumpkins can take home a pumpkin as a prize. READ MORE

Pumpkin Patch at Sheridan Park

University Village
Saturday, October 25
Sheridan Park hosts a pumpkin patch for the whole family, featuring a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and face painting. READ MORE

Batfest

Batavia
Saturday, October 25
Visit downtown Batavia to enjoy bat-themed fun including trick or treating, a parade, pumpkin bowl, bat art, stories, games and more. Kids can see a show of live bats, see dance performances, and listen to live music. READ MORE

Naperville Halloween Happening

Naperville
Sunday, October 26
Visit the Naperville Riverwalk's Grand Pavilion for Halloween games, activities and treats. Hayrides and a pumpkin patch add to the fall fun. This free event is intended for kids 10 and under. READ MORE

Halloween Party at Welles Park

Lincoln Square
Sunday, October 26
Visit Welles Park for its annual Community Halloween Party. Games, craft projects, treats and more will make this a fun time. Wear your most creative and spookiest costume. READ MORE

Darien Lions Club Halloween Party

Darien
Friday, October 31
Woud-be trick-or-treaters can enjoy indoor fun including ice skating, a "graveyard," games and a musician. More than 1,300 kids attended last year to enjoy Halloween in a safe, warm environment. READ MORE

Monster Mash at Yorktown Center

Lombard
Saturday, October 18
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
Arts in the Dark parade is a free Halloween event. Photo courtesy of Luma8
Arts in the Dark parade is a free Halloween event. Photo courtesy of Luma8

Halloween Parades Near Chicago

Arts in the Dark

Downtown
Saturday, October 18
Arts in the Dark is an evening parade that celebrates Halloween as the "artist's holiday," bringing together Chicago institutions and organizations dedicated to art and education. Audience members will be delighted by unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances set against the backdrop of Chicago’s majestic skyline. READ MORE

Little Boo Bash at Edgebrook Library

Edgebrook
Friday, October 31
Edgebrook Library's Halloween parade is back! Kids can come dressed in their costumes to dance to enjoy a mini costume parade and photo spot, crawl-through box maze, toilet paper mummy races, build-a monster craft station, seasonal snacks and plenty of time to play, explore, and connect. READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Halloween Spooktacular Festival and Parade

Glen Ellyn
Saturday, October 25
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

Bartlett Halloween Fun Fest 2.0 & Parade

Bartlett
Saturday, October 25
Watch as the Halloween Parade steps off from Bartlett Village Hall to the Depot Museum, then trunk-or-treat downtown and visit the haunted hallway at Town Center. Paint a pumpkin or ride a mini-train for an extra fee. READ MORE

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Lakeview
Friday, October 31
North Halsted Street in Boystown celebrates Halloween unlike any other neighborhood in Chicago. Parade entries may include LED robots, the Lakeside Marching Band, and Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers. A costume contest awards cash prizes to contestants in seven different categories, including a category for youth. READ MORE

Free Halloween Movies Near Chicago

"Hocus Pocus" Screening at Vodak-East Side Library

East Side
Sunday, October 5
Three 17th-century witches, hanged for their murderous crimes, are resurrected on Halloween in modern-day Salem by an unsuspecting boy, who must now figure out how to get them back in the ground in this 1993 film. The movie will be screened for kids ages 6 and up. READ MORE

"Goosebumps 2" Screening at Thurgood Marshall Library

Auburn Gresham
Sunday, October 12
Thurgood Marshall Library shows the 2018 film Goosebumps 2. The movie is about two friends find a mysterious book in an abandoned house. They accidentally unleash Slappy the evil ventriloquist dummy, and he’s bringing Halloween to life! Now it’s up to them to stop the chaos before their town is overrun by monsters. Goosebumps 2 is a fun and fright-filled adventure perfect for kids, families, and anyone who loves a good Halloween scare. READ MORE

Campfire Horrors at Northerly Island Park

Northerly Island
Friday, October 3
The whole family can enjoy a warm fire and a scary movie while roasting marshmallows and snuggling under a blanket on a cool October night. See Hocus Pocus at Northerly Island. The show begins around 7 p.m. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Springbrook Nature Center
Lincoln Avenue between Wrightwood and Webster
Lake Park High School West Campus
Vodak- East Side Branch Library