Halloween in Chicago: Get Ready for a Spooktacular Season!
It’s finally here! Our hearts start to race thinking about the thrills and chills of a Chicago Halloween. This is the perfect time to choose your Halloween costume and check out these events that celebrate the spookiest time of the year.
Chicago always transforms into a haunted wonderland around Halloween! You know you find it all here: from eerie candlelit concerts setting a beautiful atmosphere to spine-chilling haunted houses.
Get to explore unique activities like themed escape rooms, festive street fairs, or spooky storytelling nights. No matter if you’re seeking frights or delights, there is something to do for everyone in Chicago on Halloween. We’ve created a list of the most captivating Halloween events in the city.
These are the enchanting Halloween experiences in Chicago you can’t miss this year!
Ghost tours
This is the perfect time to delve into the spooky and mysterious past of Chicago. If you hear whispers or faint screams on the alleys or you see dark shadows lurking in the park, uh, just enjoy it. Chicago is famous for its haunted spots, and if you’re curious about mysterious hotels or sidewalks, we got you covered!
These are the best ghost tours in Chicago, so get ready for a chilling adventure.
- Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago
- Windy City Ghosts: Hauntings of Chicago
- Chicago Seadog Haunted River Tour
- Lincoln Park Hauntings Chicago Ghost Tour & Ghost Hunt
- The Original Hauntings Ghost Tour
- Weird Chicago Tours
- Chicago Crime & Mob Bus Tour: Criminals, Mobsters and Gangsters
The Award-Winning 13th Floor Haunted House
Get ready for an unforgettable night at this legendary house hailed by the USA today as one of the Top 5 Haunted Houses in the U.S.A. This is the 11th time when the house returns as a chilling attraction, located near the bustling Rosemont entertainment district.
There are 2 main themes: Alien Autopsy, where you’re going to dive into extraterrestrial experiments, and Lycan’s Curse, a realm of werewolves and ancient myths. The 13th Floor Haunted House is not your basic haunted house attraction—it’s a real plunge into the unknown that leaves people breathless. Grab your tickets and prepare for the adventure. If you can’t go this year, this is something you will need to see one time in your life, so make sure you keep it on your list.
thee_kozmik_kabbal via Pinterest
BITE! by AirOtic Soirée: A Spooktacular Burlesque Cabaret!
For cabaret lovers, BITE! prepared an exciting show inviting you into a world where sensuality meets the supernatural. Get ready to be captivated by hypnotic dances, vampiric acrobats, and heart-stopping stunts that might leave you on the edge of your seat! This is an evening that promises an immersive atmosphere with elaborate costumes, lighting, and thrilling soundtracks that create a mystical experience. Don’t miss your chance to be a witness to this unique blend of eerie and allure, and get ready for an unforgettable Halloween night.
This is where you can get your tickets.
Old Juliet Haunted Prison
Are you searching for an exhilarating Halloween adventure just outside of Chicago? The infamous Joliet Correctional Center, known as Joliet Prison, is waiting for you. This is a historical site that has been transformed by the same team that created the 13th Floor Haunted House into another chilling haunted experience in an unexpected place.
For people who are fascinated by haunted locations and get some thrill from exploring abandoned spaces—this is an attraction that will offer a truly unique twist on Halloween festivities, being set within a real abandoned prison. This place promises to deliver heart-pounding scares and surprises. Prepare to navigate the hallways and encounter unsettling sights on what’s sure to be one of the most haunting experiences this Halloween.
Spooky Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concert series is famous for breathtaking performances year-round, but the crisp autumn nights make these concerts truly shine! These are our absolute favorites for the whole Halloween season!
The candlelit ambiance creates a hauntingly magical atmosphere that blends perfectly with the spine-chilling soundtracks and classics. Let yourself be hypnotized by the soothing melodies performed live while surrounded by the warm glow. This is such a unique and beautiful opportunity to celebrate in style, so get your tickets for a night filled with music and mystery.
Here you have the full list of Candlelit Halloween Concerts in Chicago
Jack’s Over-the-Top Pumpkin Pop-Up
This is one of our top picks when it comes to Halloween events, as Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up is one of Chicago’s most known and beloved Halloween events.
This is a unique celebration of autumn as it takes place entirely outdoors. This year guess is exploring Chicago’s largest corn maze; they are enjoying carnival games, taking fun pictures, or indulging in delicious treats from food trucks and various bars. There is also an impressive display of more than ten thousand pumpkins spread across two acres in Goose Island, so join this exciting festivity.
You can visit Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up Instagram Profile to see the thrill yourself.
1,000 Jack-O-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Join the Night of 1,000 Jack-O-Lanterns, a very cherished event located at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Wandering along the paved path, you’re surrounded by thousands of glowing, beautifully carved pumpkins with their own story.
While the pumpkins on display are too stunning to eat, you can treat yourself to seasonal snacks and fall drinks, you can enjoy carving demonstrations, lively costumed entertainers, and lots of activities that will keep you entertained. You can’t miss this magical experience that captures the Halloween spirit in such a unique way.
This is where you can find the event.
The Thrilling Tour of Chicago’s Dark History
Gangsters and Ghosts Tour takes you through some historical locations that were once inhabited by Chicago’s most infamous gangsters. For an even more engaging experience, you can try the Ghost of Chicago: City Exploration Game, diving into a haunted narrative.
You will get to be in the shoes of a fictional character solving mysterious challenges and discovering chilling stories as you visit the city’s most haunted spots. This is an amazing blend of storytelling and exploration that offers a real-world adventure like no other. Check out the Ghosts of Chicago: City Exploration Game.
Explore the City in Search of Lost Spirits
If you prefer to have an experience at your own pace, you can embark on a ghostly quest in search of lost spirits. Chicago has an enchanting charm, but behind its vibrant surface lies a history marked by intrigue and tragedy.
You may encounter, as you walk by, whispers of the past. From historic landmarks to less-known spots with haunted tales, this is a city with stories waiting to be uncovered. Keep your senses sharp, as Chicago’s spirits reveal to those who are willing to look. You can bring a friend or venture out solo, enjoy the decorated houses, and discover secrets lingering in the shadows of this fascinating city.
Join Spooktacular Halloween Parties
A Chicago Halloween can be just another chance to dance the night away. The city has a vibrant nightlife scene with countless restaurants and bars that are hosting astonishing parties to celebrate the spooky holiday.
You might look for a laid-back Halloween or you might want to attend a little party – one thing for sure – there is something for everyone. Grab your costume, gather your friends, and fill your night with music, fun, and plenty of surprises.
These are the best Halloween parties this year:
- The Bassment’s Halloween Party October 31, 2024
- Spooktacular Howl-A-Ween Dog Fashion Show at Hard Rock Cafe
- Day of the Dead at Costera
- Fright Night Skate Night
- Nightmare on Clark Street at Bamboo Club
- Black Lagoon Pop-Up at The Parlour at The Albion
- An Italo-ween party
Embrace the essence of autumn and get the cutest fall candles here.
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