Chicago Like a Local blog

Unique perspectives on the city from the people who live here.

Smaller Ballet Folklorico Xochitl girls in a line at the Arts in the Dark parade

Bucket list, Holidays

Halloween in Chicago: Top events and things to do 2025

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…

Blog, Neighborhoods, Special events

Day of the Dead in Chicago: a celebration of (after) life

Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a tradition that has been practiced for more than 3,000 years in Mexican…

Nightlife, Special events

Chicago Halloween bars, pop-ups, and events 2024

Are you ready for a frighteningly good time this Halloween in Chicago? The city is filled with spine-chilling pop-up experiences, haunted events, and eerily good…

Holidays, Tours & attractions

Chicago ghost tours for Halloween

Chicago boasts a long and fascinating history — and that includes quite a few ghost stories. This Halloween, explore the city’s spooky side, from supernatural…

Family, Holidays

Kid-friendly Halloween events in Chicago

Tricks, treats, and costume fun — the Halloween season brings tons of family-friendly events and activities to Chicago. You can pick your own pumpkins, go…

Free & cheap, Holidays

Free Halloween events in Chicago

Halloween in Chicago is so much more than just trick-or-treating. There are magical nighttime parades, authentic Day of the Dead celebrations, spine-tingling ghost tours, and…