The best Halloween events and parties in Chicago

Returning to a two-acre plot of land just west of Goose Island, Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up saves you a trip to the suburbs by bringing a huge corn maze, more than 10,000 pumpkins, axe throwing, carnival games, food trucks, twinkling orange light displays and more fall fun to the city. A general admission ticket nets you access to the pop-up, but you can also opt for add-ons that let you take home a pumpkin, grab a drink at one of bars or go axe throwing. 

After dark, things get a little wild at Lincoln Park Zoo. This no-kids-allowed crowd-pleaser—complete with cash bars and food vendors—is back with a Halloween-themed edition. Play games on the lawn, dance to DJ-curated tunes, walk down a haunted trail, get your face painted and learn more about the hordes of animal life through fun discussions with the zoo team. Costumes are encouraged!

Get in the holiday spirit at this annual ghoulish makeover of the Chicago Botanic Garden. The event brings together more than 1,000 real pumpkins—some weighing up to 150 pounds—which are LED-lit creations and staged along the garden's pathway where other entertaining characters and activations await visitors. Seasonal snacks and drinks are available for purchase, in case all that wandering makes you hungry. 

Wanna see some of the best Halloween costumes in the city? Head to Northalsted, where a group of dedicated cosplayers shows off their creations at this annual procession. You'll find drag queens, kids, parents and pets marching in the Halsted Halloween Night Parade, which typically features impressive group costumes and dancers performing all the moves to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The parade steps off at Halsted and Belmont at 7:30pm and heads north before ending at Halsted and Cornelia at 8pm; stick around afterwards—the awards show commences at Halsted and Brompton at 8:30pm.

This annual arts-centric Halloween parade returns to State Street to cap off the City of Chicago's “Halloweek” festivities with an evening of colorful, family-friendly flair. Watch as participants from major cultural organizations, inspiring youth programs and aspiring artists in every field march down the downtown thoroughfare and prepare for a spectacle. 

Take the little ones down Lincoln Avenue and Clark Street in Lincoln Park for some Halloween fun. Business along those stretches will transform into trick-or-treat stops, so come dressed in costume! There will also be a special Halloween celebration—complete with face painting, a photo booth and more—in the plaza at Lincoln Common.

Get your fill of frights at this undeniably spirited footrace. This one-of-a-kind nighttime adventure takes place on the grounds of Chicago’s largest cemetery, the sprawling 350-acre Victorian-era Rosehill Cemetery. Doubling down on the spooky factor, the entire course will be illuminated by candlelight, casting eerie glows on the statues and mausoleums along the way. Participants can choose between a chip-timed run or a more leisurely fun run/walk. The race will be followed by a celebration at Fireside Inn across the street. 

In addition to the regular Arts in the Dark parade on State Street, the arts organization LUMA8 is hosting a "reverse" parade—in which attendees pass through a stretch of costumed performance groups lining Russell Drive in Washington Park. Bonus: At the end of the route, attendees will get a complimentary candy bag and other goodies. Come wearing your best Halloween costume!

The masterminds behind the irreverent long-running comedy show Drunk Shakespeare are unleashing their latest monster mash-up, “Drunk Dracula,” on the city during the month of October. The premise is simple, but no less hilarious: Dracula gets drunk, unsuspecting citizens fight for survival and Bram Stoker’s vampire classic gets a boozy makeover that’s equal parts unhinged and fun.

Southport Corridor is going all-out this Halloween, on Southport from Belmont to Irving Park. The block will be packed with family-friendly activities, beer from Corridor Brewery, wines curated by Galleria Liquors, a pumpkin patch, photo ops, inflatables from Lakeshore Sport and Fitness, trick-or-treating at local businesses and more.

The Field Museum's after-hours Halloween shindig is sure to be a scream for all ages. Trick or treat with SUE the T. rex and the Field's team of mad scientists, then get up close and personal with an assortment of spooky specimens plucked from the museum's collections. If you're feeling especially adventurous, stroll through Dioramas in the Dark, a spine-chilling take on the museum's walkthrough attraction. Be prepared for the ultimate test of the senses when the lights go out and the “Dead Zoo” springs to life!

Guitar for Guaraldi is an annual free concert celebrating the work of Vince Guaraldi—the American jazz pianist best known for scoring the television adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip. Throughout the night, the Mich Shirley Trio will perform true-to-form guitar arrangements featured in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 

The first-ever Haunted House Party at Shedd Aquarium brings together house music and Halloween for a night to remember. Despite the event's name, there will be no scares here—the event's vibe is decidedly more “house party” than “haunted.” Guests are invited to come dressed in their finest costumes and dance the night away to sets by Chicago’s own Dee Jay Alicia and DJ Loria Branch. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show's 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour crash lands at The Chicago Theatre just in time for spooky season. Join the original Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick), Columbia (Nell Campbell) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn) for a screening of the original unedited film like you've never seen it before. Plus, enjoy a live shadow cast with audience participation, a memorabilia display featuring artifacts and actual costumes from the movie, a costume contest and more.

Hosted at Stolen Saddle—one of Chicago's newest and largest country bars—this annual Halloween-themed extravaganza features a multi-level haunted house as well an upstairs bar serving spooky cocktails. There will also be photo ops galore and plenty of other spooky surprises. 

Round up your family for a wild, multi-weekend Halloween festival perfect for all ages to enjoy. Decorate a pumpkin, take a spin on the decked-out carousel or pose for photos amongst giant inflatables and wooden cut-outs of Halloween characters. The not-too-spooky event also treats some of the zoo's animals—including capybaras, polar bears and gorilla—to pumpkins that they can play with, nibble on and smash. 

Join LondonHouse Chicago for an immersive evening of Halloween fun spanning two unique spaces: The stylish LH on 21 Lounge and the stunning LH on 22 Rooftop, each offering a festive carnival atmosphere with eerie surprises. Guests will enjoy a premium open bar from 9pm to 1am, passed bites, party favors and live DJs all night. There will also be a costume contest at midnight; the winner will receive an overnight stay at LondonHouse and two tickets to the New Year’s Eve event.

SANCTUM returns for another weekend of dark music, dancing and community at Thalia Hall and its piano lounge Tack Room. SANCTUM prides itself on standing head and shoulders above other music festivals, bringing in extra sound support from Big Audio, decking the room with curated decor and offering an “ALL VIP” ticketing concept that grants all attendees the same level of access. This year's lineup includes Lebanon Hanover, Qual, Male Tears, Beau Wanzer and more.

Queen!, Smartbar's weekly LGBTQ underground house and disco party, takes over the entire 3730 building in celebration of Halloween. House heavyweights including Derrick Carter and Ralphi Rosario have the tunes covered, while local drag queens (Lucy Stoole, Nico and more) play host. Metro and Smartbar will be decked out to match the party's spooky theme, and costumes are encouraged. 

Raise the dead and celebrate spooky season with Chicago Athletic Association's quarterly skate night! Tear through the hotel's one-of-a-kind roller rink housed in a vintage gymnasium while Halloween-themed videos are projected on the walls and DJs All the Way Kay & J Bambii soundtrack the night. Whether you're a seasoned skater or a newbie, everyone is invited to lace up and join the fun. Skate rentals are available for $5—keep in mind they're first come, first served.

This Halloween, the I|O Godfrey rooftop transforms into an ancient tomb unsealed, where ancient curses awaken and the dead stir beneath the stars. The event will include a rooftop labyrinth, immersive decor, themed cocktails, private igloos, live DJs and more. Enter if you dare...

The Congress Plaza Hotel hosts its annual Haunted Halloween Ball, inviting costumed attendees to spend a night dancing and celebrating in a building that some claim is haunted. Guests will be able to mingle with spirits and the not-yet-deceased in the hotel's ballrooms, which sport spooky decorations, zombie cocktail servers, go-go dancers and vampire bellmen. You'll have access to multiple cash bars, great views of the city's skyline and the chance to enter a costume contest and compete for $2,000 in cash and prizes.

Head to the suburbs this Halloween season to check out the third annual Schaumburg Halloween Carnival, a seasonal fun fair full of spooky rides, trick-or-treating, themed arts and crafts, snack vendors and other attractions. Wintrust Field will also transform into The House of Creeps haunted house. Entrance to the carnival is free, but you can opt to purchase ride wristbands for unlimited runs on Krazy Kabin, Matterhorn, Sizzler and more. 

Make your Halloween a little BOO-zier (get it?) during the Ravenswood Costume Crawl, which invites costumed attendees to stroll along a route stocked with local desserts, snacks and drinks samples on Montrose and Ravenswood Avenues. Come dressed to impress—one lucky person will also win a bottle of Malört.

An unforgettable evening of thrills, chills and specialty drinks awaits for guests ages 21 and over at Zoo After Dark: BOOs & Brews. From 6-9:30 p.m., this adults-only evening features seasonal brews and cocktails, a costume contest with coveted prizes, music by DJ Nurotic, up-close encounters with Animal Ambassadors and more.

Step aboard City Cruises’ Seadog for a fun-filled journey through Chicago's history of ghosts, spirits, scandals and sins. As guests cruise along the Chicago River for 45 spooky minutes, expert—and costumed—docents weave stories of Chicago's darker side while cruising through the city's most iconic architecture. The cruise is BYOB, so be sure to bring a bevvy of your choice. 

Outfit a “casket” (i.e., casket-shaped cart with wheels) in your favorite decor for this spooky annual race through the streets of downtown Forest Park, now in its 13th year. The rules are simple: A helmet-clad “ghost” rides inside the casket, while runners push the contraption as fast as they can along a 585-foot course. Prizes will be awarded for casket decorations as well as for the winners of the race, but try not to worry too much if you're not particularly athletic—there's also a prize for the “dead last” racer to finish.

This annual celebration of scary films returns to the Music Box Theatre for a monthlong marathon of frightening, thrilling and chilling movies. Catch screenings of films like Addams Family Values, Let The Right One In, Bride of Frankenstein and many others—you can see a full schedule here. For a wickedly appropriate grand finale, Music Box will wrap up the series with not one, but FIVE midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the end of the month.