Halloween in Chicago is an unforgettable experience. Each year, the city celebrates the spookiest time of year with a packed schedule of scary, spectacular, and supernatural events.
Halloween 2026 in Chicago
Plan a Halloween weekend in Chicago filled with everything from immersive pop-up experiences to family-friendly Halloween activities. Discover fall festivals, breathtaking nighttime parades, haunted places and ghost tours, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, and so much more. Here are a few of the best things to do for Halloween in Chicago.
Top Halloween events in Chicago
- Be mesmerized by the dazzling Arts in the Dark nighttime parade
- Admire over-the-top costumes at the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade
- Explore the city’s most haunted sites with Halloween ghost tours
- Wander the city’s largest pumpkin patch at Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up
- Celebrate Day of the Dead at the National Museum of Mexican Art
Halloween parades
Chicago hosts three unique Halloween parades: Arts in the Dark in downtown, the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade in Lakeview, and the Upside Down Halloween Parade in Washington Park.
Arts in the Dark
Saturday, October 24, 2026
One of the city’s most unique fall events, Arts in the Dark celebrates the artistic side of Halloween.
This enchanted nighttime parade features large-scale puppets, costumed performers, elaborate floats, and luminous lanterns, all crafted by local artists and top Chicago cultural institutions.
The parade, which attracts more than 100,000 spectators, will move to a larger downtown location this year on Columbus Drive.
Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade and Block Party
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
The iconic Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade is one of the city’s most beloved and spectacular Halloween celebrations.
The free parade is held on Halloween night in the heart of the Northalsted neighborhood, the city’s historic LGBTQ+ enclave. The procession includes fire breathers, marching bands, roller skaters, live performances, costumed people and pets, and so much more.
The day starts with a neighborhood block party, followed by the parade come nightfall.
Upside Down Halloween Parade
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Don’t miss the annual Upside Down Halloween Parade, an all-ages daytime event that kids won’t soon forget.
This free Halloween celebration reimagines the classic parade with an immersive twist. Families are invited to don their costumes and march the parade route, lined with performances, fun characters, sports mascots, and more.
All kids will get a free goodie bag — it wouldn’t be Halloween without candy.
Explore more: Check out the top things to do during fall in Chicago.
@choosechicagoIt’s the 10th year of Arts in the Dark! 🧡 This beloved evening Halloween parade illuminates historic State Street with dozens of performances, floats, puppets, and more for 50,000 spectators. 📆 10/19, 6-8pm♬ original sound – Choose Chicago
Ghost tours of Chicago
Chicago is a city with a rich, fascinating history — and more than a few (allegedly) haunted locations. This Halloween season, learn the stories behind the city’s most supernatural sights on these ghost tours by foot, bus, or boat.
Chicago River ghost tours
Meet the friendly ghosts that haunt the city’s downtown waterfront on these special Halloween boat tours. The Haunted River Tours with Seadog Cruises will delve into supernatural occurrences and infamous figures as you enjoy stunning skyline views. New this year, the Creepy Cruise aboard the iconic First Lady is a chilling journey into the city’s most shadowy history.
Walking tours
Learn some of the city’s most haunting history on a walking tour of the city. Chicago Ghost Tours with Tours by Foot blends history and humor as you explore downtown Chicago at dusk. And the signature Chicago Booze and Boos Tour with Nightly Spirits is a supernatural pub crawl that covers Prohibition-era tales and favorite gangster haunts.
Haunted bus tours
Cover more ground on a Chicago bus tours, where you can kick back and relax as you cruise by spooky sights. One popular option is The Devil In The White City Bus Tour with American Ghost Walks, which follows the footsteps of the country’s first serial killer and the Chicago World’s Fair.
Explore more: Create your own DIY walking tour with our list of Chicago’s most haunted places.
Halloween pop-ups and festivals
Embrace the spirit of the spookiest season with these one-of-a-kind pop-ups and events. Top happening include the city’s largest corn maze, a mesmerizing pumpkin display, and fall fun at a free zoo.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up
Sept. 19 – Nov. 1, 2026
The largest outdoor Halloween experience in Chicago, Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up features a corn maze, pumpkin patch, food trucks, photo ops, carnival games, axe throwing, and more. Get your tickets today, all ages are welcome.
Fall Fest and more at Lincoln Park Zoo
Sept. 25 – Nov. 1, 2026
Soak in beauty of autumn at this historic zoo, which will host its annual Fall Fest celebration. Enjoy family-friendly fun like pumpkin patch photos, live pumpkin carving, performers, and more.
Kids will love the annual Spooky Zoo event on Oct. 17, with trick-or-treating and more Halloween fun. And the adults-only Zoo Brews on Oct. 23 and 24 includes craft beer and cider tastings throughout the zoo grounds. Costumes encouraged!
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns
Oct. 7 – 25, 2026
Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns is back with hundreds of glowing, intricately hand-carved pumpkins, some tipping the scales at over 150 pounds. This popular Halloween event lights up the night each October at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There will also be plenty of fall snacks, sips, and sights.
@choosechicagoChicago’s largest fall pop-up experience is BACK and better than ever! 🎃 Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up is 2 acres packed with seasonal fun for all ages. Here’s what to expect: 🐂 Mechanical bull riding (New!) 🐖 Pig racing ride (New!) 🌽 The city’s largest corn maze 🔮 Fortune telling and tarot reading 🪓 Axe throwing 🎯 Carnival games 🍎 Fall treats 🍹 Seasonal drinks 📸 100s of photo ops 🎃 Take home a pumpkin! Open now through 11/3 📍 Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up♬ Electro swing with a Halloween atmosphere(1491735) – Putturi
Explore more: Check out our roundup of even more Halloween events, parties, and pop-ups.
Day of the Dead celebrations
Day of the Dead may coincide with Halloween, but the meaningful Mexican holiday is its own one-of-a-kind celebration. The city honors the occasion with fun events at museums, restaurants, parks, and more.
Day of the Dead in Pilsen
The National Museum of Mexican Art is hosting its 40th annual exhibit dedicated to Day of the Dead customs and traditions. The Día de Muertos exhibit opens Sept. 20 and runs through December.
The museum will also host their free Day of the Dead Xicágo event, when they transform the museum and nearby park into a community-wide cultural celebration.
All month long, wander the neighborhood to see local decorations and homemade alters, like the famous giant ofrenda.
Explore more: Find the best spots for autumn views with our guide to fall colors in Chicago.
Spooky museums
Get a dose of culture (and maybe even some supernatural sightings) with Chicago’s most spine-tingling museums.
International Museum of Surgical Science
This is the perfect time of year to explore the International Museum of Surgical Science. Housed in a historic mansion in the Gold Coast neighborhood, this unique museum explores the (sometimes unsettling) history of surgery through art, books, medical instruments, and artifacts.
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
The historic Jane Addams Hull-House is one of Chicago’s most fascinating — and haunted — landmarks, long surrounded by bone-chilling urban legends. This October, the museum is embracing its spooky status with ghost tours where guests can learn about residents like the Devil Baby and mysterious lady in white.
Glessner House
This historic home in the city’s South Loop embraces spooky season each year with a series of unique events. Take a ghost tour of the surrounding Prairie Avenue Historic District to learn about the area’s real mysteries and supernatural sightings. Or attend the annual Edgar Allen Poe readings, hosted inside the Glessner House on Halloween night.
Medieval Torture Museum
Billed as the largest interactive historical museum in the country, the Medieval Torture Museum in the Loop houses more than 100 macabre devices and tools that represent some of the darkest days of humanity. Halloween is the perfect time to explore the museum’s eerie exhibits — if you dare.
Halloween shows and live events
Chicago’s many stages host awe-inspiring theatrical productions all throughout the year, and Halloween time is no exception. Check out some of the spookiest shows you can catch in Chicago this October.
Jekyll & Hyde
Sept. 8 – Nov. 8, 2026
Follow the haunting tale of a 19th-century scientist who unknowingly releases an evil alter ego, set to gothic pop-rock tunes in this acclaimed musical production. Jekyll & Hyde‘s Broadway in Chicago debut follows a completely sold-out and extended-by-demand run in Chicago last year.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour
Oct. 31, 2026
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour comes to the historic Chicago Theatre for a one-night-only Halloween experience. This live event will feature a screening of the film in a new 4K restoration, hosted by members of the original cast.
House of the Exquisite Corpse
Oct. 8 – Nov. 1, 2026
Back for its sixth Halloween season, this immersive horror experience is Chicago’s one and only puppet haunted house. House of the Exquisite Corpse, hosted at the Steppenwolf Theatre, features six teams of local artists and their uniquely terrifying puppet creations around the theme of “lullabies.”
Stage Frights!
Oct. 23 – Nov. 1, 2026
Stage Frights! brings 10 brand new short horror plays to the stage at the Raven Theatre in Edgewater. The curated collection features original tales by members of the Sandbox Theatre Collective, promising jump scares, twists and turns, and plenty of Halloween fun.
Halloween burlesque and cabaret
Throughout October
The Newport Theater in Lakeview will host a wide variety of spooky and sexy Halloween shows, including Nightmare at The Newport, Occult Cabaret, Halloween Cirque Burlesque, and more throughout the month.
Death Toll: A Halloween Drinking Game Sketch Show
Oct. 16 – 31, 2026
This long-running sketch show at the Cornservatory features a fresh batch of funny Halloween sketches. Death Toll is an interactive comedy showcase where audience members are invited to drink whenever someone dies. The show is BYOB.
Explore more: Check out more exciting shows happening in Chicago this fall.
Horror movie screenings and film fests
You can expect plenty of spooky screenings this season, with film festivals and drive-in movies popping up all around Chicago. Check out the top spots to catch Halloween movies this October.
Chicago Horror Film Festival
Oct. 2 – 4, 2026
The 28th annual Chicago Horror Film Festival, held at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Lakeview, will shine a spotlight on the world of independent horror cinema with three days of scary screenings.
Music Box of Horrors
Oct. 24, 2026
Horror buffs won’t want to miss the annual Music Box of Horrors, hosted by the historic Music Box Theatre. The event brings 24 hours of horror movie madness, featuring ultra-rare screenings and visits from actors and directors. Get your tickets now for horror classics, cult favorites, and so-bad-it’s-good flicks.
Chi-Town Movies Drive-In
Throughout October
Discover a full line-up of spooky movies at this old-school drive-in in Pilsen. Chi-Town Movies Drive-In celebrates Halloween by screening all your favorite classics, like Friday the 13th and Scream, alongside new releases like Obsession. Find your tickets today.
