Last updated October 2026
Halloween in Chicago 2026 lands on a Saturday, and that changes everything. The biggest night of the year now shares a date with Navy Pier’s trick-or-treating, two parades, and the city’s biggest costume party, so the trick is picking your lane before October 31 sneaks up on you. 🎃
I’ve rounded up the Halloween events worth planning around this year, split into family picks and grown-up nights, with every 2026 date checked against the organizer’s own site. I’ve lived in Chicago part-time for about ten years, and my husband’s family is from here, so I’ve also added the things visitors don’t find out until they’re standing in the wrong place, like which parade moved, where the best Halloween pop-ups are and which events wrap up a week before Halloween.
Here’s the short version of what’s different in 2026. Arts in the Dark leaves State Street and moves back to Columbus Drive. Brookfield Zoo’s Boo! and the Botanic Garden’s jack-o’-lanterns both end October 25, so they’re not Halloween-night options. And Haunted Halsted turns 30 with an all-day street festival before the parade.
In a Nutshell
- Halloween day: Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- Best free family event: Spooky Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo, Saturday, October 17.
- Best parade: Arts in the Dark, Saturday, October 24, 6 to 8 p.m., now on Columbus Drive in Grant Park.
- Halloween night: the 30th Haunted Halsted parade in Northalsted, 7 p.m. on October 31.
- Ends early: Brookfield Zoo’s Boo! and Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns both close October 25.
- Book ahead: Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, the Botanic Garden, 13th Floor, and Zoo Brews all use advance tickets.
Chicago does Halloween by neighborhood rather than in one downtown blowout. The zoo events sit in Lincoln Park, the biggest parade fills Grant Park at the lakefront, the nighttime party scene runs from Northalsted to Michigan Avenue, and two of the best family events are out in the suburbs. Pick a home base, then stack events that sit near each other. A Lincoln Park morning and a Navy Pier afternoon are an easy pairing; Brookfield and Glencoe are separate day trips in opposite directions.
Quick Picks by Interest
- Little kids: Spooky Zoo on October 17, then Navy Pier’s indoor trick-or-treating on Halloween afternoon.
- Free and no tickets: Spooky Zoo, Arts in the Dark, the Upside Down Parade, and Haunted Halsted.
- Dog owners: the Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl on October 24. The zoo events don’t allow pets.
- Adults only: Zoo Brews on October 23 or 24, or the Haunted Halloween Ball on Halloween night.
- No car: everything in the city proper works on the CTA, and Brookfield Zoo is a Metra ride from Union Station.
Chicago Halloween 2026 Calendar
Every date below comes from the organizer’s 2026 page. Prices change by date and time, so I’ve only listed the ones the venue publishes.
| Event | 2026 dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up | Sept. 19 to Nov. 1 | Timed tickets |
| 13th Floor Haunted House | Select nights, Sept. 12 to Nov. 8 | Timed tickets |
| Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest | Fri. to Sun., Sept. 25 to Nov. 1 | Free entry; rides extra |
| Brookfield Zoo Boo! | Oct. 3 to 25 | Included with zoo admission |
| Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns | Oct. 7 to 11, 14 to 18, 21 to 25 | From $24 adult, $17 child (nonmember, advance) |
| Spooky Zoo | Sat., Oct. 17 | Free |
| Navy Pier Slightly Spooky October | Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 1 | Free |
| Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls (21+) | Oct. 23 and 24 | $65 nonmember through Oct. 22 |
| Arts in the Dark Parade | Sat., Oct. 24 | Free |
| Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl | Sat., Oct. 24 | $5 advance registration |
| Upside Down Halloween Parade | Sat., Oct. 31 | Free |
| Haunted Halsted Fest and Parade | Sat., Oct. 31 | Free to watch |
| Haunted Halloween Ball (21+) | Sat., Oct. 31 | Tiered tickets |
Family-Friendly Halloween Events in Chicago
These are for kids, families, and anyone who prefers smiles over screams.
Lincoln Park Zoo — Spooky Zoo
If you have young kids and only one Halloween event in you, make it this one. It’s free, it’s daytime, and the zoo itself is the draw: what I love about Lincoln Park Zoo is how close you get to the animals. It’s the quintessential city zoo.
Where: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 (Lincoln Park neighborhood, about 3 miles north of the Loop)
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Cost: Free, all ages
The zoo’s Auxiliary Board hosts trick-or-treating with sustainably sourced candy, a scavenger hunt, animal chats, kid-friendly entertainment, and free carousel rides. It runs alongside Fall Fest, which brings a pumpkin patch, s’mores, and carnival rides on Fridays through Sundays from September 25 to November 1. Fall Fest rides are ticketed. The zoo says Spooky Zoo draws more than 15,000 people, so arrive right when it starts. For lunch, R.J. Grunts sits right across from the zoo at 2056 N Lincoln Park West; it was my kids’ favorite when they were younger. My guide to things to do with kids in Lincoln Park has more for the rest of the day.
Older kids and adults can also book the zoo’s Haunted History Tours, led by author Adam Selzer on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in October.
Navy Pier — Slightly Spooky October
This is the best Halloween-day answer for families staying downtown, because the trick-or-treating is indoors and it’s free. In 2026, Navy Pier spreads its Halloween programming over four days instead of one big Saturday.
Where: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (Streeterville, on the lakefront east of the Magnificent Mile)
When: October 17, 24, and 31, and November 1, 2026; trick-or-treating is October 31 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Each day brings free hands-on activities from 1 to 5 p.m. and free movies at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. On Halloween, the costume contest runs from 3 to 5 p.m., and the 7:30 movie is the original Halloween, so head out with little ones before then. There’s no L stop at the Pier, so take a CTA bus; Navy Pier lists the #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, and #124 Navy Pier as serving it daily. More in my Navy Pier guide.
Chicago Children’s Museum — Castle
For toddlers who’d rather play dress-up than walk a parade route, this is the gentle indoor option. Navy Pier and the Children’s Museum are, in my opinion, a must with kids.
Where: 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (on Navy Pier, Streeterville)
When: The Castle exhibit runs through January 10, 2027
Cost: Museum admission
The Castle exhibit, stocked with hundreds of costumes and props, gets a fall makeover that includes a spooky wizard’s room. Pair it with Navy Pier’s free Saturday activities for an easy day.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up
Jack’s works for both families and date night, which is why it’s the easiest pick on this list for a mixed group. It’s a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and fall fair in the middle of the city, so there’s no driving out to a farm.
Where: 1265 W Le Moyne St, Chicago, IL 60642 (Goose Island, the island in the Chicago River’s North Branch, northwest of the Loop)
When: September 19 to November 1, 2026
Cost: Timed tickets, priced by date and time
Expect more than 10,000 pumpkins, a corn maze, carnival games, food trucks, and axe throwing for ages 18 and up, with drinks for 21 and up. Jack’s says daytime is family-forward and the mood shifts after 7 p.m., so go before 7 with kids and after 7 for date night. Ticket slots are timed, and in early October weekday entry started at 4 p.m. while weekends opened at noon.
Arts in the Dark Parade
This is Chicago’s big Halloween parade, and it’s the one I’d plan a trip around: giant puppets, glowing floats, and thousands of performers from every corner of the city, free and family-friendly. It is not on Halloween night, so don’t save it for October 31.
Where: Columbus Drive, heading north from Balbo Drive to Jackson Boulevard (Grant Park, just east of the Loop)
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Organizer LUMA8 says the parade has outgrown State Street, so 2026 marks its return to its original Columbus Drive route, with Buckingham Fountain and the skyline behind it. Older guides and maps will still say State Street. Food trucks park along the east side of the route, and costumes are encouraged.
Upside Down Halloween Parade
This is the parade where your kids are the parade. Families in costume walk the route themselves while dance teams, acrobats, and sports mascots perform around them.
Where: Russell Drive in Washington Park, on the South Side next to Hyde Park
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, noon to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free, with candy handed out along the route
Chicago Botanic Garden — Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns
If you want the prettiest Halloween night out with kids, this is it: a lit path through the garden lined with artist-carved pumpkins, including 75 giants of about 150 pounds each. It’s in the north suburbs, so it’s a car or rideshare evening.
Where: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022 (north suburbs, roughly 25 miles north of the Loop)
When: October 7 to 11, 14 to 18, and 21 to 25, 2026, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Cost: From $24 adults and $17 kids 3 to 12 for nonmembers buying ahead for off-peak times; kids 2 and under free
Prices go up for Friday through Sunday nights and for day-of tickets. The cheapest window is Wednesday or Thursday from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. Advance parking is $15 and $25 at the gate, and the garden says rideshare drop-offs don’t pay a parking fee at all.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago — Boo! at the Zoo
Boo! is a good pick if you want a full zoo day with Halloween layered on top, especially on a weekend. Just know that it ends October 25, a week before Halloween.
Where: 8400 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513 (west suburbs, about 14 miles west of the Loop)
When: October 3 to 25, 2026; fall hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends
Cost: Included with zoo admission
Weekends bring costume parades, trick-or-treating stations on the East Mall, inflatables, and pumpkin decorating for an extra fee. Without a car, take Metra’s BNSF Line from Union Station to the Hollywood stop, which Metra describes as a two-block walk to the zoo gates. Check the schedule first, because not every BNSF train stops at Hollywood.
Halloween Events & Haunted Fun for Adults
These run later and louder. Two are strictly 21 and up, and the haunted house is built for teens and adults.
13th Floor Haunted House
For actual screams, this is the Chicago area’s big haunted house, and it’s for teens and adults who want the real thing. It’s out by O’Hare, so plan to drive or rideshare.
Where: 5050 River Rd, Schiller Park, IL 60176 (northwest suburbs, near O’Hare)
When: Select nights, September 12 to November 8, 2026
Cost: Timed tickets, with upgrades available
The 2026 houses are Black Hollow Institute and Woman in White, plus five-minute mini escape games and two bars for guests 21 and up.
Haunted Halsted Halloween Fest & Parade
If you’re in Chicago on Halloween night itself, this is where the city’s costume energy goes. For its 30th year, the Northalsted Business Alliance has turned it into an all-day event, so families get the daytime and adults get the night.
Where: N Halsted St in Northalsted, Chicago’s historic LGBTQ+ district in Lakeview; the parade steps off at Halsted and Belmont and ends at Brompton
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026; fest 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., parade 7 to 8 p.m., costume contest and after-party 8 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free to watch; costume contest entry is $5
The daytime fest closes Halsted to cars and adds a kids zone and trick-or-treating at more than 25 businesses. At 6 p.m. the street clears for the parade, so claim a sidewalk spot along Halsted before then. More than 300 costumed marchers compete for $4,000 in prizes, and the contest finale is at the parking lot at 3514 N Halsted. The Belmont L station, served by the Red and Brown lines, is a short walk west of the parade start.
Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls at Lincoln Park Zoo
This replaces the zoo’s old adults’ Halloween night, and it’s a fun one for couples and friend groups: craft beer and cider stations across the zoo, with you “trick-or-treating” between them in costume.
Where: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 (Lincoln Park)
When: Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2026, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Cost: $65 for nonmembers through October 22, $70 day-of; 21 and up only
Tickets include a souvenir cup, samples, unlimited rides on the carousel, Ferris wheel, and giant slide, a DJ, and a costume contest. Costumes with full-face coverings aren’t allowed. The zoo points CTA riders to the Armitage and Fullerton L stations and the #22, #36, #151, and #156 buses.
Haunted Halloween Ball at the Congress Plaza Hotel
For a big, dressed-up Halloween night party downtown, this is the one. It’s a costume-required dance party in a historic hotel with a famously haunted reputation, on Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park.
Where: Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 (south end of the Loop)
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Cost: Tiered tickets that rise as the date gets closer; VIP tables available; 21 and up
Expect DJs across 20,000 square feet of ballrooms and a costume contest with $2,000 in cash and prizes. Organizers also offer discounted hotel rooms, which beats hunting for a ride home at 2 a.m.
Prefer a rooftop? Navy Pier’s Halloween on the Pier at Offshore Rooftop is Friday, October 30, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with DJs and lake views, so it won’t compete with your Saturday plans.
Halloween With Your Dog
Your best bet is the Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl, a trick-or-treat for dogs and their people on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You walk Halsted from Aldine to Cornelia collecting treats from local businesses. Advance registration is $5, check-in is at Halsted and Aldine, and costumes are encouraged.
Leave the dog home for the zoo events. Lincoln Park Zoo doesn’t allow pets at Zoo Brews, though service animals are welcome.
How I’d Spend Halloween Saturday in Chicago
With kids, I’d do Navy Pier’s indoor trick-or-treating from 1 p.m., stay for the 3 p.m. costume contest, and then decide whether everyone has enough left for the Haunted Halsted parade at 7. Families on the South Side can swap in the Upside Down Parade at noon.
Without kids, I’d wander the Haunted Halsted Fest in the afternoon, grab dinner in Lakeview, watch the parade, and then head downtown for the Haunted Halloween Ball. It’s a lot of Halloween for one day, and that’s the fun of a Saturday Halloween.
Pro tip: Halloween 2026 is a Saturday packed with events across the city, so expect busy trains and slow rideshares after the Haunted Halsted parade ends at 8 p.m. If you’re heading downtown afterward, leave a little before the costume contest wraps.
Plan Your Chicago Halloween Weekend
- Getting around: The CTA reaches every city event on this list, and my CTA guide explains fares and the L lines. If you’re new to the city, start with my tips for planning a trip to Chicago.
- Where to stay: Stay downtown or in River North for easy access to Navy Pier, Grant Park, and the bus and L lines that reach Lincoln Park and Northalsted.
- Weather: Late October nights can drop into the 40s °F (4 to 8 °C), so plan costumes that work with a coat, especially for evening parades by the lake.
The Chicago Weekly
Halloween plans in Chicago shift right up to the last week, from sold-out time slots to parade route changes like this year’s. I send one email a week with what’s actually happening in the city, so you hear about it before you’re standing on the wrong street. Come along.
Chicago Halloween FAQ
When and where is the Arts in the Dark parade in 2026?
Arts in the Dark is Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. It moves from State Street back to Columbus Drive, heading north from Balbo Drive to Jackson Boulevard in Grant Park.
Are Chicago’s Halloween events accessible?
Lincoln Park Zoo calls Zoo Brews accessible and offers an accommodations contact through its accessibility page. Navy Pier says all five CTA bus routes serving the Pier are ADA accessible. For the parades and suburban events, contact the organizer before you go.
Whatever you pick, Chicago’s Halloween is best when you settle into one neighborhood instead of racing across town. And if Haunted Halsted is your night, come back to Lakeview in daylight sometime; Halsted Street has plenty going on long after the costumes are packed away.