Search the ultimate Halloween guide servicing the North Shore. Pumpkin patches, haunted houses, spooky movies and books to read to littles + Halloween events like trunk or treats and city walks. Only on Chicago North Shore Moms. This guide was updated September, 2025.
Halloween Spooktacular Events on the North Shore
2025
Night of 100 Scarecrows @Heller Nature Center, September 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Craft a friendly scarecrow of your own to place on the trails of Heller Nature Center! Families bring their old clothes to build a scarecrow with their family. Then, take a walk into the woods to place your scarecrow along our Scarecrow Trail! Scarecrows will stay up until Halloween, and can then be picked up at our nature center afterwards to take home!
Pumpkin Quest: Pick & Paint @Heller Nature Center October, 16 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Search our very own mini pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkin to make your own. Then, let your creativity shine—paint, stickers, googly eyes, and more will be on hand for you to decorate a one-of-a-kind pumpkin masterpiece to take home!
Ravinia District Candy Stroll @Recreation Center, October 24 @ 3:30pm – 5:00 pm
Start your Halloween haul early with the annual Ravinia District Candy Stroll on Friday, October 24. Attendees can visit participating businesses for yummy candy and take part in fun, fall activities at Jens Jensen Park (540 Roger Williams Ave.)
Wicked Wonderland @Recreation Center, October 24 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Celebrate Halloween trick or treating at the Lake Forest Recreation Center. Activities include a variety of family friendly Halloween themed activities. Do not miss out on this FUN family event. Event activities subject to change There is no admission fee. This event for Lake Forest Residents is sponsored by Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry.
Lake Forest Residents only.
Jack o Lantern Geocache @Heller Nature Center, October 24 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Grab your flashlight and your sense of adventure as you step into the shadowy woods for an unforgettable GPS-powered treasure hunt. Using high-tech navigation and clever clues, you’ll track down glowing Jack-o’-Lanterns hidden deep along our forest trails.
Scary Skate @Centennial, Ice Arena October 24 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for a frightfully fun evening at Scary Skate, our free community ice skating event celebrating Halloween! Come in costume and enjoy spooky music, festive decorations, and a ghoulishly good time on the ice. All ages and skill levels are welcome—just bring your skates (or borrow a pair) and get ready for a chillingly cool night!
Trunk or Treat @Hidden Creek AquaPark, October 30 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Celebrate the season with a free, family-friendly Trunk or Treat event! Kids are invited to trick-or-treat from car to car, collecting treats from creatively decorated trunks hosted by Park District staff and local community groups. Costumes encouraged—come enjoy a safe and festive Halloween experience!
2024
Jack O’Lantern World in Lake Zurich runs 9/27 – 10/27
Discover the incredible walk through thousands of hand carved jack o’lanterns featuring 1000+ pounders! Learn more….
The Great Highwood 14th annual Great Pumpkin Fest 10/4-10/6/24
This fan-favorite festival features all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations, live music from three stages, costume contests, a full carnival, and much more! Bring your family, friends, and pumpkins to join in the fun and help Highwood carve its way into history. More…..
Fall Fest @ Elawa Farm 10/12/24 8am-1pm
🍎Apple cider donuts and cozy food 🍂Fall themed kid activities and games 🎼Music from @aidanjbanjo from 11 am – 1 pm 🌻Flower crown making 🐐Goats, always goats 👩🌾
Fall Fest: Trunk Or Treat Sunday @ YMCA Northbrook – 10/13/24 @ 1-3pm
Get ready for a day full of fun at Fall Fest! We’ve got something for everyone—Trunk or Treat, BINGO, carnival food, awesome kids’ activities, live music, and plenty of vendors to check out. More….
Scarecrow Fest & Walk 10/19 12-5pm
Stroll downtown Highland Park businesses to view festive, decorated scarecrows. Then head to The Lot to celebrate the season more…
A Vintage Halloween @ Wagner Farm – 9/15/24 2-5pm; 10/13 3:30-5pm; 10/20 3-5pm
Skip the fringe and create an accurate 1920s look for Halloween during this three part series. In week one, learn to make a genuine 1920s dress using Mary Brooks Picken’s infamous (and highly adaptable) one-hour dress pattern. More…
Halloween Fun: Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns @ Chicago Botanic Garden October 16-20 & 23-27, 2024
Monstrous good times. Crisp fall evenings. It wouldn’t be Halloween without Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns, where elaborate artist-carved pumpkins light your way through the Garden after dark. Seasonal fare, costumed entertainers, and live pumpkin-carving demos round out this bewitching experience. Learn more and purchase tickets here!
Wicked Wilmette 2024 At Hibbard Park – October 19, 2024
Come one, come all, enjoy our Wicked Wilmette event in the Fall! This family friendly occasion is filled with inflatables, face painting, magic shows, games and more!
Ravinia District Candy Stroll October 25, 2024
The annual Ravinia District Halloween Candy Stroll returns on Friday, October 25, 2024! Visit participating businesses for trick-or-treating and tons of fun. Start your journey at Jens Jensen Park (540 Roger Williams Avenue). The fun will take place from 3:30 PM – 5 PM.
Highwood Trick Treat Trek October 25, 2024 3-6pm
Pumpkins in the Woods @Hubbard Woods – October 25, 2024 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Hubbard Woods Park will be transformed into a pumpkin patch for the family to enjoy! The event will include pumpkin decorating, carnival games, bounce houses, a DJ, costume contest, and more.
JACK-O’-LANTERN GEOCACHE @ Heller Nature Center – October 25, 2024
Enjoy a night walking through the woods as you use GPS technology to navigate your way through our forest. Your GPS will help you find Jack-o-Lanterns that we will have placed along our Trails. Follow the clues and your GPS to complete our Geocache Course… more
SCARY SKATE @ Centennial Ice Arena – October 25, 2024
Join us for a spooktacular evening skating in costume with family and friends! Event is free, food will be available for purchase from Michael’s Food Truck… more
Evanston Trunk or Treat @ Robert Crown Community Center – October 25, 2024
Tricks and treats await at this annual trunk or treat extravaganza… more
Boo Bash @ North Park – October 25, 2024
Lincolnshire’s family-friendly, SPOOK-TACULAR Halloween celebration is back! Bring your little ghosts and ghouls for an evening of fun, frights, and free candy from 5 – 8 p.m. on October 25 at North Park! More information about 2024 Boo Bash will be provided on this page as it becomes available. More…
Haunted Heritage Cemetery Walk @ St. Peter’s UCC Cemetery – October 26, 2024
New year, new ghosts! Just in time for Halloween, get spooky with a tour of the St. Peter’s UCC Cemetery (8530 Harms Rd.), featuring some of Skokie’s local legends! More….
BOO-seum Bash @ Nature Museum – October 26, 2024
Trick or Treat! It’s time to party and have some merry mischief at the museum! Join the Nature Museum for an afternoon of animal encounters, crafts, and Halloween fun. Slither up with the museum’s spectacular snakes, get curious with some creepy crawly…more
Spooky Skate 2024 @Centennial Ice Rinks – October 27, 2024
Mingle and mash with your fellow monsters. Come in costume and enjoy games, a costume contest & more! Skate rental available. This event takes place during our regular Saturday public skate session. Get in the spirit and come in costume! More…
A Family Halloween @ Wagner Farm – October 27, 2024 3-6pm
Join us on the Farm for a little MOOing and BOOing!! Wear your favorite costume to our kid-friendly bash that includes haunted wagon rides, pumpkin games, a black-light dance party, button making, […]
Halloween Haunted Trail – October 31, 2024
Bannockburn Trick or Treaters of all ages are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and take a walk through the Village of Bannockburn “Haunted Trail”. Treats will be handed out to the children along the trail…. more
