Top Halloween Activities in Chicago 2024
Top Halloween Activities in Chicago, 2024
Halloween is almost here, and there’s no shortage of spooktacular events taking place in and around the city this year.
Whether you’re looking for an eerie adventure or family-friendly activities, visitors and locals will love the full range of Halloween events Chicago has to offer. Explore our list of Chicago Halloween events and activities below for a frightfully good time.
If You Love Haunted History
Halloween offers the perfect opportunity to embrace your inner historian, with a heavy emphasis on the supernatural.
Lincoln Park Zoo Haunted History Tours
Lincoln Park Zoo is best known as home to a collection of exciting and exotic animals, but it’s also one of the oldest parks in Chicago, with a spooky and surprising past.
Anyone who loves history and can’t resist a good ghost story will enjoy the Haunted History Tour led by Adam Selzer, renowned author, and Mysterious Chicago tour guide. If you’re looking for Halloween activities Chicago locals love, this is a firm favorite!
Medieval Torture Museum
The Medieval Torture Museum is not for the faint-hearted. For those with a preference for a gory and gruesome Halloween and an interest in dark history, this is the ultimate experience. With over 100 items on display, you’ll explore a range of medieval torture devices you won’t see anywhere else. This interactive experience is one of the most spine-chilling Halloween activities in Chicago this year.
Ghost Tour
There’s nothing like a classic ghost tour to get your senses tingling, and there’s no better location for it than Chicago. The stunning Windy City is the perfect backdrop for ghost stories and tales of paranormal activity, all woven into our fascinating history. From true crime to unsolved mysteries, a ghost tour makes for one of the most spellbinding Chicago Halloween events out there, leaving you with plenty of stories to retell. Take a look at Windy City Ghosts to learn more.
For Pumpkin Patch Adventurers
No Halloween is complete without a visit to a pumpkin patch. Perfect for couples, families, and friends, it’s a great way for anyone to celebrate the season.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up
We couldn’t write a list of the Halloween events Chicago does best without mentioning Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up. It’s more than a pumpkin patch; it’s a full fall festival. Here, you’ll find a corn maze, gem mining, axe throwing, fortune tellers, and over 10,000 pumpkins. From food trucks to photo-ops there’s something for everyone. Of all the Halloween events in Chicago, this one is unforgettable.
Night of 1,000 Jack o’ Lanterns
This impressive display from the Chicago Botanic Garden transforms a tranquil setting into a truly spectacular treat. Over 1000 glowing pumpkins light the way as you explore. Get your costume ready and don’t miss the selfie station! It’s one of the most relaxing and family-friendly Chicago Halloween events this year.
For Those Who Love Scares Around Every Corner
If you’re looking for an immersive experience this Halloween, Chicago has no shortage of haunted houses to get your heart racing! Haunted houses are a great option for thrill-seeking teens and adults longing for a little more excitement this Halloween.
Try the world-famous 13th Floor Haunted House in Schiller Park, Midnight Terror in Oak Lawn, or Disturbia in Downers Grove.
If You Enjoy Big Screen Screams
What’s Halloween without a night watching the best horror movies of all time? Below, we highlight three favorite Chicago Halloween events tailored to movie buffs.
Music Box of Horrors
The Music Box Theatre loves Halloween so much that it created “Music Box of Horrors Presents” to show classic horror movies once a month, year-round. This historic theatre was built in 1929, so even the setting is full of character and drama.
Chitown Movies: Halloween Movie Nights
Chitown Movies makes the most of the season by showing unforgettable Halloween movies at its drive-in theatre. From September, showings include Hocus Pocus, Scream, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street. It’s cozy, iconic, and an ideal way to spend Halloween in Chicago.
Logan Theater’s Horror Movie Madness
Chitown Movies isn’t the only theater presenting unmissable Halloween movie nights. Logan Theatre is once again running its annual Horror Movie Madness, one of the many Halloween events Chicago locals don’t want to miss! Throughout October a variety of horror movies will be shown at this iconic, vintage theatre, including Sleepaway Camp, The Thing, and Psycho.
For Those Who Want to Run for Their Lives
If you love Halloween, it’s likely Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is a firm favorite too. The Race of the Dead is an iconic Chicago 5K, and many participants choose to wear
costumes. Join the race and chances are you’ll have a few ghosts and ghouls on your heels!
For Fans of Spooky Nightlife Adventures
In the Windy City, kids don’t get to have all the fun; there’s no shortage of Chicago Halloween activities designed especially for adults. Here’s a couple of our favorites:
- Haunted Halloween Ball is an incredible nightclub-style experience at the 122-year-old
Congress Plaza Hotel. Head-turning costumes are encouraged! - Join over 600 attendees for The Haunted Halloween Monsters Ball at the Hard Rock
Café on West Ontario Street. Enjoy music from multiple DJs and dance the night away. - Head to Lincoln Park Zoo for the Adults Night Out. This 21+ event features a DJ,
cocktails, costumes, face painting, and a haunted trail. - There’s no shortage of bars that will use Halloween décor to celebrate the season. With
a little research, you’ll have plenty of new venues to explore. If you have too many to
choose from, consider a bar crawl. Gather some friends to join you in costume for a
memorable evening. It’s one of the best Halloween activities in Chicago that you can
tailor to your own preferences.
If You Want Halloween Parade Spectacles
There’s nothing quite like a parade to experience the magic of Halloween. Our list of top Chicago Halloween events wouldn’t be complete without the following spectacles.
Arts in the Dark Parade
The Arts in the Dark Parade is a fantastic, colorful event taking place downtown in the Loop, starting on State Street. Expect extravagant costumes and captivating performances. If you’re looking for Halloween events Chicago artists and performers will love, this is the one for you.
Upside Down Parade
The Upside Down Parade is an event with a twist! Rather than watching the parade pass by, visitors walk through the performers, giving you an active role and creating an immersive experience. If you’re looking for family friendly Halloween activities in Chicago, this is a great option for you.
Haunted Halsted Halloween Night Parade
You won’t see anything quite like Haunted Halsted. The cash prizes for the costume contest ensure the most captivating characters attend this event. Expect music, acrobats, dancers, and an all-around vibrant experience that brings the community of Northalsted to life.
Our No. 1 Halloween Activity in Chicago
We’ve saved the best for last; celebrate with your loved ones in style, by booking a private boat cruise with Tours & Boats. There’s nothing like a boat party to take a celebration to the next level. Invite up to 150 guests to enjoy a full-service bar, two viewing decks, and a dance floor. If you’re ready for an unforgettable Halloween, get in touch to learn more.