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🎃 City Guide · Illinois · 2026 Season
Looking for Halloween events in Chicago, IL? From the world-famous Arts in the Dark Parade and the 29th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade to Six Flags Fright Fest, Statesville Haunted Prison, 13th Floor Haunted House, Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up on Goose Island, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Spooky Zoo, historic ghost tours, haunted river cruises and the Congress Plaza Haunted Halloween Ball, Chicago packs more real Halloween into October than almost any city in America. Tap any event card below for full details — dates, prices, ticket links and local tips updated all season.
15 Top Halloween Events in Chicago for 2026
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Parade
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
Family FriendlyFree
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 6–8 PM on Columbus Drive. The 12th annual nighttime parade with spectacle puppets, floats and 100+ cultural organizations — named among the top 6 Halloween events in the world.
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Theme Park
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America
Teens / 18+Paid
Select nights, September 19 – November 1, 2026 in Gurnee, IL. Scare zones, live shows, night coasters plus five haunted mazes (Haunted Attractions Pass required) including the new Blair Witch: No Signal.
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Haunted House
13th Floor Haunted House Chicago
Teens / 18+From $19.99
5050 River Road, Schiller Park — late September through early November 2026. USA Today ranks it among the top 5 scariest haunts in the US. Hollywood-quality sets, hidden bars and immersive scare zones.
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Family Event
Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo
Family FriendlyFree
Mid-October Saturday morning at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St. Free trick-or-treating with sustainably sourced candy, costume parades, free carousel rides and Fall Fest attractions.
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Community Parade
Upside Down Halloween Parade
Family FriendlyFree
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 12–2 PM in Washington Park. Reverse-format parade — costumed kids and families walk past dance teams, musicians and mascots. Part of Chicago’s Fall Fest 2026.
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Adult Party
Haunted Halloween Ball at Congress Plaza
21+Ticketed
Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Congress Plaza Hotel on Michigan Avenue — one of USA Today’s most haunted hotels in the world. Chicago’s biggest annual Halloween costume party.
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LGBTQ+ Parade
Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
All AgesFree
Saturday, October 31, 2026 in Northalsted (Boystown). 29th annual — Chicago’s only parade actually on Halloween night. Ranked top 10 in the US by Fodor’s Travel. $4,000 in costume prizes.
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Pumpkin Pop-Up
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up
All AgesFrom $22
265 W Le Moyne St, Goose Island — mid-September through Halloween 2026. Chicago’s biggest corn maze plus 10,000+ pumpkins, axe throwing, carnival games, food trucks. Kids 4 and under free.
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Haunted Prison
Statesville Haunted Prison & HellsGate
Teens / 18+From $45 VIP
17250 S Weber Rd, Lockport — Thursday through Sunday all October 2026. Illinois’s most acclaimed haunted attraction with 150+ live actors. Combo pass with HellsGate available.
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Farm Fest
Sonny Acres Farm Fall Fest
Family FriendlyFree Entry
29W310 North Ave, West Chicago — late September through October 2026. Free admission to pumpkin patch and market. Ticketed haunted hayrides and Curse of the Scarecrow Haunted Barn.
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Farm Fest
Goebbert’s Farm Pumpkin Festival
Family FriendlyPaid Admission
Two locations — South Barrington and Pingree Grove. 50+ attractions including the famous pumpkin-eating dinosaur, pig races, giraffe barn, apple orchard, and 20+ pumpkin varieties.
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Ghost Tour
Chicago Ghost & Gangster Walking Tours
Adults / TeensFrom $30
Multiple operators (American Ghost Walks, Windy City Ghosts, US Ghost Adventures, Chicago Hauntings). Walking tours cover Death Alley, Congress Hotel, Prairie Avenue and Al Capone Prohibition sites.
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Bar Haunt
Nightmare on Clark Street
21+Ticketed
3505 N Clark Street, Wrigleyville — October 10 through November 3, 2026 at Stolen Saddle. Multi-level bar transformed into an immersive haunted haven with Halloween cocktails and photo ops.
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River Cruise
Anita Dee Haunted Halloween Cruise
21+Ticketed
Anita Dee ONE at Dusable Harbor — Friday October 30 (Lake) and Saturday October 31, 2026 (River). Halloween-themed cruise with costume contest, DJ and views of the Chicago skyline at night.
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Aquarium Party
Shedd Aquarium Halloween Party
21+Ticketed
1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr — Halloween weekend 2026. Adults-only party with house beats, creepy costumes, deep-sea thrills and full access to all aquarium exhibits after hours.
💡 Local Tips for Halloween in Chicago
🎃 Buy tickets early for the big haunts — 13th Floor, Statesville, HellsGate and Six Flags Fright Fest all sell out the last two October weekends. Twice The Terror combo passes save money.
🎃 Chicago October weather swings widely — 30 to 70 degrees is normal, so layer under costumes for Arts in the Dark, Northalsted Parade and outdoor pumpkin patches.
🎃 Public transit beats parking downtown — State Street L stops stay open during Arts in the Dark; the Blue Line runs to Rosemont for 13th Floor Schiller Park; Red Line drops you at Belmont for the Halsted parade.
🎃 Halloween 2026 is a Saturday — expect huge trick-or-treat turnouts in Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Old Town, Wicker Park and Beverly.
🎃 Pumpkin patches book fast on weekends — Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, Sonny Acres and Goebbert’s all get busy after 11 AM Saturdays. Weekday evenings are calmer.
❓ Chicago Halloween FAQ
What is the biggest Halloween event in Chicago?
Arts in the Dark on October 24, 2026 draws over 100,000 spectators and is ranked among the top 6 Halloween events in the world. On Halloween night itself, the 29th annual Haunted Halsted Parade in Northalsted is Chicago’s only parade held on October 31 and is ranked top 10 in the US by Fodor’s Travel.
Are there free Halloween events in Chicago?
Yes — the Arts in the Dark Parade, Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade, Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo, Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, the Upside Down Halloween Parade in Washington Park and Sonny Acres Farm Fall Fest all have free admission. Ticketed haunts like 13th Floor start at $19.99.
Where are the best Chicago neighborhoods for trick-or-treating?
Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Old Town, Wicker Park and Beverly are Chicago favorites with sidewalks, decorated houses and heavy participation. Most trick-or-treating runs 5:30–8:30 PM on Halloween night, with Beverly’s Longwood Drive drawing the biggest crowds year after year.
What is the scariest haunted house in the Chicago area?
13th Floor Haunted House in Schiller Park is ranked among the top 5 scariest in the US by USA Today. Statesville Haunted Prison and HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport are Chicagoland’s other legendary extreme haunts, with a combo pass called Twice The Terror. Six Flags Great America’s Fright Fest offers five themed mazes for a theme-park scare.
Where can I take my kids for a pumpkin patch near Chicago?
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up on Goose Island is the closest for downtown families (tickets from $22, kids 4 and under free). For a full farm experience, Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago has free admission plus hayrides, and Goebbert’s Farm (South Barrington and Pingree Grove) is a Chicagoland classic with pig races, a giraffe barn and 20+ pumpkin varieties.
Are there Halloween ghost tours in downtown Chicago?
Yes — multiple operators run walking tours in October covering the Loop, Congress Hotel, Death Alley, Prairie Avenue and Al Capone-era Prohibition sites. Prices typically start at $30–38 per person. Boat-based options include the Anita Dee Haunted Halloween Night cruise on October 30 and 31, 2026.
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