Halloween--also known as Chicagoween--rivals Christmas in Chicago. Having fun with family and friends is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and Chicagoans certainly know how to have a good time. The celebration begins on October 1st and runs through October 31st. Parades, fun runs, pumpkin-patch hayrides and haunted houses are all part of the fun. There's something for everybody---young and old ghouls alike.
Neighborhood Celebrations
Every neighborhood park in Chicago holds a Halloween party on October 31. Candy--usually the star--is a mere afterthought when compared to all the activities that are part these Halloween parties. Pony rides, petting zoos, and pumpkin decorating contests are just a few of the things keeping the kids and adults entertained. The biggest party is downtown in the Loop, where Daley Plaza is transformed into "Franken Plaza" for the holiday.
Local Farms
Although Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, it's surrounded by farmland. Head to one of the local farms and take a Halloween night tractor-pulled hayride through a pumpkin patch. Halloween in Chicago is not complete without getting lost and frightened, running in a corn maze. Good luck finding your way out--surrounded by ghouls and 10-foot cornstalks. Warm homemade apple cider will help keep you warm in the cold October air.
Fun Runs and Walks
October is the month of the Chicago marathon and the city continues running through Halloween. Halloween fun runs take place all over town. Two of the most popular are the Halloween Hustle 5K Fun Run and Walk and the Pumpkin in the Park 5K. Both adults and children run in full costume.
Bike Rides
Take a Halloween bike ride through the historical architecture of West Town. About 18-miles long, the West Town Bike Tour coincides with the local neighborhood Halloween street fair and costume parade--so costumes are encouraged. Prizes are awarded for best costume and most creative use of a bike helmet in a costume.
Haunted Chicago
Haunted houses, boats and navy piers help spook Chicagoans and their guests on Halloween night. Chicago's neighborhood parks host not-so-scary haunted houses for the little ones and a haunted village is set up at Daley---oops--Franken Plaza downtown. There is even a haunted tree house and a haunted sanitarium in the city on Halloween night.
Parades
Local neighborhoods hold their own Halloween parades and everyone is welcome to walk in their scariest costume. Some of the bigger parades award best costume prizes. Leave your costume on when you take fido for a walk---in full doggy-costume---at the Spooky Pooch Parade in the Chicago Botanical Gardens. This is the only time dogs are allowed in the gardens all year.
Higher Halloween Pursuits
It's no exaggeration that nearly every organization in town has a Halloween program. The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry's Spooky Science is not for the faint of heart. Here kids create green slime, smash pumpkins and dissect actual cow eyeballs. For music lovers, several local symphonies perform spooky family Halloween music programs. Theatre lovers, young and old, have numerous scary Halloween night productions to choose from.
Member Comments
GramJ February 1
What fantastic ideas to get into a festive spirit that is perfect for a classic Chicago party. Thanks for the suggestions and information on these events. http://ChicagoBirthdayParties.com