Discover October annual events and things to do that go well beyond the boo.
October Highlights: Chicago Halloween Events and Things to Do
- AIDS Run & Walk - Saturday, October 3
This 5K run/walk to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago starts and ends in Grant Park. - Eli's Cheesecake Festival - October 3 and October 4
Chicago's home town cheesecake factory rolls out this two-day fest every year to benefit local charities. - [link url=http://www.chicagofashionresource.com/events/89]Fashion Focus Chicago - TBD
A series of fashion forward events designed to showcase Chicago's rising fashion industry. - Chicago Calling Arts Festival - TBD
The fourth annual festival of artistic collaborations between Chicago artists and artists living elsewhere on the planet. - Chicago Art Open - TBD
Annual festival of Chicago artists, art, and art buying with the theme of "Think Global, Collect Local." -
Annual Festival of Films from Iran - TBD
Held every year at the Gene Siskel Film Center, this festival provides a showcase for Iranian films and often provides many with their first U.S. screenings. - Chicago Flatwater Classic - Sunday, October 4
This is the Chicago River's only canoe and kayak race. It has competitive and non-competitive options for participating. - Chicago Humanities Festival - Saturday, October 17 and Wednesday, November 4 through Sunday, November 15
This annual exploration of ideas and people sprawls across the city every fall, centers around a theme, and invigorates the city with new ideas. This year's theme is "Laughter." - Andersonville Arts Weekend - TBD
This festival, which enjoys its fifth year this October, highlights how this neighborhood has evolved to embrace more art and design into its engaging mix.
- Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival - TBD
Send your kite up to the highest height at Montrose Beach between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - Third Newberry Library Sherlock Holmes-Arthur Conan Doyle Symposium - TBD
It's elementary. Sherlockians descend on the Newberry Library to explore more deeply the author, his work, and his most famous detective. From 9 a.m. to noon. - Vive La Hispanidad - TBD0
Billed as the "signature celebration" of Hispanic Heritage month, the evening will feature Latin food samplings, music, arts, and more at the Galleria Marchetti. - Country Music Festival - TBD
This festival grew out of the Taste of Chicago. It now gets its own weekend and new digs over near Soldier Field. - National Association of Reptile Breeders Convention - Open to the Public - TBD
If reptiles or the acquisition there of are your thing, then you may want to slither to the Tinley Park Holiday Inn Convention Center for this regional event. - Chicago Marathon - Sunday, October 11
This perennial favorite for runners and spectators alike strides through Chicago's neighborhoods this October. - Columbus Day Parade - Monday, October 12
The parade marches along Columbus (of course!) from Balbo to Monroe. Kick off time is 12:30 p.m. - Creative Nonfiction Week at Columbia College - TBD
A four-day celebration of truthful storytelling featuring an opening night lecture by Jonathan Kozol. - Chicago International Film Festival - Thursday, October 16 to Wednesday, October 29
North America's oldest competitive film festival with a focus on international work calls Chicago home. - Chicago Children's International Film Festival - TBD
This is the only children's film festival in the world whose winners can go on to compete for Oscar nominations in the short film category. It's also a great way to expose your kids to something more enriching (in my opinion) than Barney or Wii. - Randolph Street Market - Chicago Antique Market - Chicago Indie Market - TBD
The best of European markets meets the best of Chicago festivals. Sunday indoors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At 1350 W. Randolph (outside) and 1340 W. Washington (inside). Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. outdoors and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. indoors.
