You already know that Chicago’s Hallow-week is back. But if you think that’s the only major celebration for the spooky season, you sure don’t know what you’re talking about! Whether this is your first Halloween in Chicago or your twentieth, check out our top picks of things to do for Halloween in Chicago this year.
PS: Looking for the hardcore scare? Head over to our Chicago haunted house list!
In the City
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up
1265 W Le Moyne St, Chicago, IL 60642
The space features endless entertainment and Instagram moments with larger-than-life installations to create the perfect pose with friends and family. There’s is no shortage of fun for all ages throughout the outdoor venue, featuring music and activities. Hit the bullseye at axe throwing, delve into mining for gems, search the corn maze for the one-of-a-kind hidden “boo”-zy bar or simply spend time sorting through the 10,000+ pumpkins to take home for the spooky season!
Witches Brew at Masq
110 W Hubbard St 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60654
Masq at Hubbard Inn is launching an immersive Hocus Pocus Experience called Witches Brew starting Thursday, October 13. Hosted Thursdays and Fridays on the 3rd floor, the Hocus Pocus Experience will feature live burlesque performances and variety shows, with two different seating times available to guests (6pm and 8:30pm). Tickets are $40 each and must be purchased in advance for the hour-and-a-half performances. There will be numerous photo ops, creative cocktails, and burlesque performances!
Nightmare on Navy Pier at Offshore Rooftop
1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Creep it real this year at Offshore Rooftop. The frighteningly fun party begins Saturday, October 29 at 8 p.m. and runs until midnight, and invites guests to dress up in costume and enjoy a night filled with giveaways, a costume contest, a premium 4-hour open bar, passed bites, music, dancing, and more.
The cocktail menu will feature drinks with Grey Goose, Angel’s Envy, Patron, and Bacardi, the evening’s official sponsor. Blood bag “welcome cocktails” will be made available for guests upon arrival. To eat, guests can enjoy bloody buffalo bites with whipped bleu cheese, prosciutto and fresh mozzarella eyeballs, pumpkin soup shooters, mini salmon poke, hummus and crudité, grilled lamb lollipops, prime burger sliders, and mini vegetable egg rolls. In addition to frightening libations, Offshore will be overrun with décor with webs, spiders, skulls, and skeletons.
Image Credit: Lottie’s Pub
Tent Flix & Thrill at Lottie’s Pub
1925 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622
Immerse in true Halloween spirit with movie screenings at Lottie’s Pub happening on Tuesday, Wednesday, + Thursday during the last two weeks of October. The first screenings will start at 5:30 PM for those looking to bring kids and family, which will then be followed by R-rated movie flicks starting at 8:30 PM. Movie screenings will take place in Lottie’s tents, so be sure to book your tent today at lotties@pioneertaverngroup.com. Movie schedules:
Tuesday, October 18th-Thursday, October 20th | 5:30 PM: Hocus Pocus | 8:30 PM: Scream
Tuesday, October 25th-Thursday, October 27th | 5:30 PM: Monster House | 8:30 PM: Scary Movie
Image Credit: Ina Mae Tavern
Band Jazz Funeral at Ina Mae Tavern
1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622
For the rest of October, Ina Mae Tavern will transform into a Voodoo Lounge, offering Halloween-inspired specials + events all month long! For those who really want to experience true Voodoo magic, be sure to plan on visiting Ina Mae on Friday, October 28th. Following Ina Mae’s Happy Hour (half off Halloween cocktail menu), a strolling 4 Star Band Jazz Funeral will be right outside Ina Mae at 6 PM, sharing the electrifying tradition and energy of New Orleans with Chicago. Come witness the performance yourself and toast to another successful spooky season here in the city!
Image Credit: Central Park Bar
Anniversary Costume Party at Central Park Bar
2924 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
In celebration of their one-year anniversary this October, Central Park Bar in Avondale will host a Halloween costume party on Saturday, October 29 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the patio. Guests are encouraged to dress up in Halloween attire and the evening will feature drink specials like a $5 Frozen Spiced Latte (Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey, Maplewood Coffee Liqueur, oat milk, cookie syrup, and a cinnamon stick) and free photobooth photos for all. DJ ZZZosma will spin jams all evening and there will be prizes for best Halloween costume.
Halloween at Time Out Market
916 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Spend your Halloween in Chicago at Time Out Market, surrounded by delicious food, family-friendly activities, and a dog-friendly patio! Begin the celebration on Friday, October 28th with the Halloween Kick-Off Event from 6pm to 8pm, featuring a live performance by J Marks Trio. Meanwhile, the Dia De Los Muertos Halloween Party, which is the main costume party, takes place on Saturday, October 29th from 5pm to midnight. Looking for something fun with the kids? Come down on Sunday for the Kid’s Halloween Party from 10am to 1pm.
Morgan’s New Wave Halloween Party
952 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Now that summer is over and the dark days are here, it’s time for all of the moody ghouls to put on their tulle and gather for a night of tears and fears at Morgan’s New Wave Halloween Party. The event takes place Friday, October 28th from 9 pm to 1 am inside the three-story events venue and its retractable glass rooftop enclosure. The party features a plethora of a-ha moment activities, including a New Wave karaoke lounge, burlesque performances by the Hot Tawdry Troupe, and a sensationally opulent synth-centric dance party on their private glass-enclosed rooftop overlooking the West Loop.
Midnight Dance Party at The Owl
2521 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Perfect for night owls and late night Halloween revelry, The Owl in Logan Square will host a Psychedelic Disco Punk Dance Party on Monday, October 31 that runs from midnight until 4 a.m. Party-goers can sip on festive fall beers like Southern Tier Pumking, Temperance Oktoberfest, Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, Hopewell Harvest Pale Ale, and Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier all night long.
Halloween Costume Party at KINGS
Join KING’s for a Hocus Pocus-themed Halloween Costume Party on Saturday, October 29th, beginning at 9pm! A DJ will be spinning new and favorite top hits and guests will be entered into a costume contest with 1st place winning $100 and 2nd place winning $50. So grab your group of ghouls for a spooky night of games at KING’s. You’ll also get to explore their limited-time spooky cocktails.
Howl-O-Weenie at etta
700 N Clark St. Chicago, IL 60654
IT’S TIME FOR OUR PUPPY HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST! And yes, it will be as adorable as it sounds. Tickets get you a spot for your fur-baby in the costume contest, a pup menu, a pup party tote to-go featuring goodies from local farm-to-paw business Treats de Cuisine, a specialty cocktail for each human, with a patio table for dinner, and all the photo opportunities. The winner of ‘Best Costume’ wins a dinner for four at etta! RSVP now before spots are gone! ** Please include how many doggos will attend in the reservation notes and their Instagram handle!
Image Credit: Cody’s Public House
Howl-O-Ween at Cody’s Public House
1658 West Barry Avenue., Chicago, IL 60618
Cody’s Public House in West Lakeview, known for being dog-friendly inside and out, will host a Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest. Guests are invited to come early for the Bears vs Cowboys at 12 p.m. and stay for the costume contest which will kick off at 3 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Doggy Costume ($100) and Best Dog + Human Combo Costume ($200). There will be raffles benefiting Alive Rescue and a Halloween-themed drink menu. Specials will include $6 Tito’s Vodka, $5 Hop Valley beers and FREE Chicago Dogs.
Halloween Drag Show at Remedy
1910 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
To kick off Halloween weekend, guests can join Remedy in Bucktown on Thursday, October 27 for the “Spoopy Halloween” Drag Show hosted by diva Ranger Cheeks and the ever fabulous and fierce Marvette Devo and Candi Forest. Guests can enjoy Remedy’s half-price happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m before the drag show begins at 7 p.m.
HOUSE OF TAO
632 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654
The River North restaurant and nightclub is going all out for venue-wide “House of TAO” Halloween festivities from Oct. 27-29. Located in the iconic and former Chicago Historical Society Building, the River North hotspot is rumored to be haunted already. TAO Chicago will be hosting the go-to party of the season on October 28 complete with photo moments (think their own version of an iron throne), standout DJ sets from Gordo and Slushii, and a costume competition. The decor will also complement the iconic building’s storied history and serve as the perfect backdrop for one of Chicago’s favorite holidays.
Joy District
112 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Joy District will host a special performance from Sean Kingston on Friday, October 28. The popular River North club will be open on Monday, October 31, with a special costume contest. The winner receives their RENT paid for the month of November!
Around the Burbs
Halloween in Long Grove
Long Grove is going full-out this Halloween! Pets throughout the region are invited to claw into their best Halloween duds and howl at the moon at the annual Pet Costume Parade on October 16th! Meanwhile, their annual Halloween party for the whole family will be held at Brothers’ Field on October 21st.
Image Credit: Wintrust Field
Schaumburg Halloween Carnival
Kicking off at Wintrust Field on October 21, The carnival features two weekends filled with free family fun, featuring spooky rides, tasty treats, trick-or-treating, seasonally themed arts and crafts, a beer garden and more!
The carnival is hosting two premier food and beverage vendors – The Popcorn Wagon and Funnel Cake Trailer, who will serve classic carnival fare like funnel cakes, corn dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, nachos and more. Carnival ride wristbands can be purchased in affordable bundles each day, or you can opt for the new FunTagg ticketing system if you prefer to pay per ride.
Featured Image: Unsplash
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