Halloween is one of Chicago's shining moments, with haunted houses, parties, costume parades, and more. And even though Halloween is only one day, you can celebrate with spooky events all month long in Chicago. Get all the details on Halloween fun in Chicago with our Guide to Halloween 2011, including event listings and times and dates for haunted houses, corn mazes, and more. If you have a Halloween event you would like listed, send details to Chicago.Guide@about.com.
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1. Chicagoween
Chicago's own Halloween celebration is Chicagoween and takes place in the city's Daley Plaza throughout October. Chicagoween includes pumpkin decorating and crafts, circus-type entertainment, and a farmers market selling pumpkins, squash, apples, and other fall specialties. Admission to Chicagoween is free.2. Chicago's Franken Plaza
Chicago's Daley Plaza becomes Franken Plaza October 28-30 with special Halloween-inspired performances, hayrides, trick-or-treating, a screening of the movie Beetlejuice on October 28 at 5:50 p.m., and more. There is also a costume contest on October 29 from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. October 29 is actually designated as Monster Bash at Franken Plaza. Admission is free.
3. Haunted Houses Near Chicago
Halloween isn't really Halloween without a visit to a haunted house. The Chicagoland area has several haunted houses, including Nightmares Basement of the Dead in Aurora, Illinois and Massacre Haunted House in Naperville,Illinois. Get information on Chicago area haunted houses.
4. Haunted Segway Tours of Chicago
This haunted Segway tour is the first of its kind in Chicago and includes tours of some of Chicago's most haunted spots such as the haunted Fort Dearborn, the Iroquois Theatre, and the past home of Al Capone's haunted yacht. Tours take places Wednesday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Cost is $65.5. The Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier - Canceled
Unfortunately, the Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier will be canceled this year. According to their Web site: "The Fear Haunted House is not going to be operating this fall. After a long series of discussions about the upcoming season, Navy Pier has informed us that they do not want to host a haunted house on the pier or in South Gateway Park." Zombie Army Productions, which puts on the Fear haunted House does have another haunted house - the Statesville Haunted Prison in Crest Hill, Illinois.
6. Spooky Boo Spectacular! at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Take the kids to the family-friendly Spooky Zoo Spectacular! at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday, October 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which is free to attend, includes a haunted house, trick-or-treating, costume parade, entertainment, and more.
7. Edgar Allen Poe Readings at the Glessner and Clark House Museums
On October 29 at 5 p.m. and at 8 p.m., the Glessner and Clark House Museums on S. Indiana Avenue, are hosting staged readings of classic stories and poems from author Edgar Allen Poe. The readings, which are limited to 40 people, will take places in the Clarke House Museum's parlor. Cost is $25 ($20 for museum members). Prepaid reservations are required.8. Shadows on the Street: Haunted Tours of Historic Prairie Avenue
Explore the said-to-be-haunted historic mansions on Chicago's Prairie Avenue. In the late 19th century, Prairie Avenue was home to Marshall Field and other influential business leaders. The tours will take place on October 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cost is $10 ($8 for museum members). Reservations are recommended.9. Scary Movies at the Chicago History Museum
As the Chicago History Museum's Web site says, "Bundle up, bring some cider, and join us for scary movies on the museum's plaza." Silence of the Lambs will be shown on October 12 at 6 p.m. and The Shining will be screened on October 26 at 6 p.m. Admission is free.10. Boo! at the Brookfield Zoo
Family-friendly Halloween events at the Brookfield Zoo this year include pumpkin carving, costume parade, a haunted carousel, 7,000 square-foot corn maze, and more. Dates are October 22-23 and October 29-30, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The zoo also has "Creatures of the Night," which includes an underground pathway tour to see a research team's dig for prehistoric life, as well as a haunted tram, and snippets of classic horror movies. Dates for "Creatures of the Night" are October 14-16, 21-23, and 28-30, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission to the Brookfield Zoo is $13.50 for adults and $9.50 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Parking is $9.
