Enjoy an enchanting afternoon or magic, wizards and witches at the historic Woodstock Square.

Dixon's Scarecrow Fest is Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Northwest Illinois, eastern Iowa and southwest Wisconsin are home to frightfully fun haunted houses.

3D Sideouts in Island Lake is a great place to watch a game, with 30 indoor and outdoor TVs, as well as the Sunday NFL Ticket package.

GreenMan Theatre’s popular Graveside Stories Cemetery Walk returns Saturday, Oct. 18 at Churchville Cemetery in Bensenville, and Oct. 24-25 at Bronswood Cemetery in Oak Brook.

Downtown Wheaton is offering a variety of family-friendly events to celebrate the holidays this season.

National Dessert Day is Tuesday, Oct. 14!

Check out these exciting family events happening in Glen Ellyn!

Guests will hear accounts of unexplained occurrences experienced not only by the Grams family, who own the museum, but also by employees and visitors over the decades.

Check out these delightfully frightening haunted houses in northern Illinois, guaranteed to bring the scares this season.

Upcoming events include

Interactive highlights include responsive light sculptures, laser graffiti, enchanted fountains, train car installations, rooftop laser shows and more.

Thousands of glass pumpkins will be on display at the Morton Arboretum from Friday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 12.

Burgoo Festival is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 in Utica.

Help support Will County's Children Advocacy Center at the Men Who Cook fundraiser Oct. 11.

Sterling's popular beer festival Hops on the Rock is set for 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.

The Edith Farnsworth House in Plano will host its Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12.

The St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend is Oct. 10-12.

All Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra concerts are held in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, in the Northern Illinois University Music Building. The season opens Oct. 11

The Illinois Valley has several haunted tours that explore the supernatural this Halloween season.

Watch a screening of the 1981 cult classic horror film as a live string ensemble performs.

The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum will now host its Fall Festival event at the campus in Union, a change from the previously announced location.

The self-proclaimed Bozologist — he’s written the book on Bozo — has taken his massive collection of toys, merchandise, research, and historical ephemera and put it in one place in downtown Elgin.

Experience some real-life haunts at the historic Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb on Friday, Oct. 10.

“Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” is now open at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan off Route 12 in Ingleside. The experience runs through Nov. 2.

The Fall Fox Fest is Sunday, Oct. 5 in downtown Oswego.

The 75-25 Reserve Light Whiskey won high honors at the Heartland Whiskey Competition.

Take a private ghost tour of Waukegan's Genesee Theatre during this Halloween season.

The company’s premiere of “The Great Gatsby” is a Broadway-style take on the iconic story.

Watch football and baseball playoff games at one of these lively sports bars in northern Illinois.

Currently under construction within towering rows of corn adjacent to the Richardson Adventure Farm, a one-of-a-kind haunt is scheduled to open Thursday, Oct. 2, and to remain open Thursdays through Sundays until closing night Saturday, Nov. 1.

HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport is now open for the 2025 Halloween season.

Autumn on Parade, Old English Faire happen this weekend in Oregon.

Naperville Oktoberfest

The Old Joliet Prison will host a special anniversary screening of "The Blues Brothers" on Oct. 4.

The Monster Mash Balloon Bash is Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds, while the Ottawa Scarecrow Festival is also Saturday.

Looking for something fun to do in DeKalb County this season? Check out this list of family-friendly events.

Enjoy tricks, treats and scares at the Bureau County Fairgrounds this weekend!

Fans can see Taylor Swift's new music video, behind the scenes footage and more in this special movie screening.

The cult classic film will be shown at its original filming location in Joliet on Oct. 4.

The Taylor Swift–themed event is a celebration of community, music and local businesses.

The rural Oglesby farm provides a unique agritourism experience.

The Treehouses of Starved Rock are steps away from Starved Rock State Park’s system of picturesque hiking trails, canyons, waterfalls and bluffs.

These northern Illinois pumpkin farms are ready to welcome guests for a day of family-friendly fall fun.

The event will have live music by The Fall Guys, a special OAKtoberfest beer from Two Hound Red, apple cider doughnuts, apple cider, games and much more.

Get ready to see Momence in a gruesome new light as the third season of the Netflix drama “Monster,” which tells the horrific true story of serial killer Ed Gein, begins streaming Friday.

Explore the spooky side of Kendall County at upcoming programs in October.

October is a jam-packed month at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with events for adults-only and the whole family.

Take a ghost tour of the historic building on Wednesdays in October, and enjoy craft beer and spirits at McHenry Brews & Barrel Fest Oct. 18.

Activities include a creative fall craft, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a bounce house and a make-your-own-scarecrow craft.