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The Local Detour
OCTOBER 23–25 · CHICAGO SUBURBS

This Weekend, Sorted.

BatFest, spooky museum nights, haunted trails, a toy show and free Halloween plans across the suburbs.

40PICKS
25FREE + CHEAP
15TICKETED
DETOUR OF THE WEEK BatFest 2026 Batavia · Saturday

Hi Neighbors,

We picked 40 distinct suburban plans for October 23–25, from Batavia’s free BatFest to live music at Naper Settlement, haunted trails, a vintage toy show and family Halloween outings.

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Five Worth Leaving the House For

01
DETOUR OF THE WEEK

BatFest 2026

SATURDAY · Sat 10 AM–2 PM · Batavia · Free
FREE / CHEAPFAMILYBatavia

A downtown costume parade, 60+ trick-or-treat stops, reptile shows and a pumpkin roll

Best forFamilies who want a big free downtown Halloween outing
Why goA downtown costume parade, 60+ trick-or-treat stops, reptile shows and a pumpkin roll
Know before you go: Parade steps off at 10 AM; organizer says it may photograph/film participants for its own promotion; this does not grant us reuse rights
02TICKETEDNaperville

Howlin' at the Moon

FRIDAY–SATURDAY · Fri–Sat 5–10 PM · Naperville · $25 per adult per night; food/drinks extra
TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSIC

Two nights of live bands, fire dancers, a moonlight market and Halloween installations

Best forAdults who want a full Halloween night with live bands
Why goTwo nights of live bands, fire dancers, a moonlight market and Halloween installations
Know before you go: 21+ with government photo ID; separate $25 ticket for each night, food and drinks extra.
03FREE / CHEAPBolingbrook

Spooktacular Halloween Festival

SATURDAY · Sat 4–7 PM; parade 5–5:30 PM; trick-or-treat 5:30–7 PM · Bolingbrook · Free
FREE / CHEAPFAMILY

Costume parade, themed characters, games and trick-or-treating in the shopping center

Best forFamilies who prefer an afternoon festival with a costume parade
Why goCostume parade, themed characters, games and trick-or-treating in the shopping center
Know before you go: Outdoor festival; some activities inside stores
04FREE / CHEAPNaperville

Family Spooktacular

SATURDAY–SUNDAY · Sat 10 AM–2 PM; Sun noon–4 PM · Naperville · $15 adult; $10 child 4–12; under 4 free; membership included
FREE / CHEAPFAMILYLIVE MUSIC

Historic-home trick-or-treating, a Disney tribute band, slime-making and inflatable attractions

Best forKids 3–12 who prefer playful rather than scary Halloween
Why goHistoric-home trick-or-treating, a Disney tribute band, slime-making and inflatable attractions
Know before you go: Food trucks and 21+ bar extra; do not double count both days
05FREE / CHEAPDowners Grove

2026 Living Cemetery

SATURDAY · Sat 10 AM–noon · Downers Grove · Free
FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHT

Actors bring Downers Grove pioneers back to life at the historic cemetery

Best forHistory fans who prefer stories to jump scares
Why goActors bring Downers Grove pioneers back to life at the historic cemetery
Know before you go: Historical reenactment, not a haunted-house attraction
THE FULL GUIDE

More Plans, Organized by Day

The featured five stay up top. Everything else is organized by day below.

Want this list before Friday next week? Get the Thursday email →
OCT
23

Friday

Also featured above: Howlin' at the Moon

FREE + CHEAP
6 free/cheap choices.
6 PICKS

Family Night Trick-or-Treating at Cantigny

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYWheaton
Fri 5:30–7:30 PM · Free event; $6 per car parking reported; confirm current rate when reserving · Wheaton

Lantern-Lit Halloween Hike

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTWarrenville
Fri–Sat 6–9 PM; last hike departure 7:30 PM · $10 per person · Warrenville

LOTUS Illuminated Art at Paddleboat Quarry

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTNaperville
Fri–Sat after sunset–10 PM · Free · Naperville

Clayson House After Dark

FREE / CHEAPDATE NIGHTPalatine
Fri 6–9 PM; last entry 8:30 PM · $5 per person · Palatine

Historic Downtown Long Grove Trick-or-Treating

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYLong Grove
Fri 3–5 PM · Free · Long Grove

Halloween Movie in the Barn: Monsters, Inc.

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYHawthorn Woods
Fri doors 5:30 PM; film 6:30 PM · Free; popcorn while supplies last · Hawthorn Woods
TICKETED + HIGHER COST
9 ticketed choices.
9 PICKS

Spooky Trail

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTWest Chicago
Fri–Sat 7:30–10 PM · $15 presale; $18 at door · West Chicago

Hayride of Horror & Curse of the Bayou

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLockport
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 6–9 PM · Single attraction $15 Fri/Sun or $20 Sat; combo $25 Fri/Sun or $30 Sat · Lockport

Harland Williams Stand-Up

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTBatavia
Fri–Sat 7 PM and 9:30 PM performances · From $47.99; fees/priority seats extra or unconfirmed · Batavia

West Suburban Symphony: Rhapsodies

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICNaperville
Fri 7:30 PM · $40 adults, $35 seniors 65+, $10 teens, free 12 and under · Naperville

Josh Gates: Haunted Expeditions Live!

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTJoliet
Fri 7:30 PM · Tickets start $33.50 plus fees · Joliet

Haunted Train Ride at Blackberry Farm

TICKETEDFAMILYAurora
Fri 6:30–8 PM · $16 per person ages 1+ including adults · Aurora

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns

TICKETEDFAMILYDATE NIGHTGlencoe
Fri–Sun 6:30–10:30 PM; timed entry · Nonmembers from $24 adult/$17 ages 3–12 + $3 per-ticket fee; parking $15 advance/$25 on-site · Glencoe

Ride the Cyclone

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICArlington Heights
Fri 7:30 PM; Sat–Sun 2 PM and 7:30 PM · $25–$49; applicable ticket fees extra · Arlington Heights

Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Haunted Barn

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTWest Chicago
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 7–9 PM · Haunted Barn $20, Hayride $25, combo $38 online; separate $10 weekend farm admission may apply · West Chicago
OCT
24

Saturday

Also featured above: BatFest 2026, Howlin' at the Moon, Spooktacular Halloween Festival, Family Spooktacular, 2026 Living Cemetery

FREE + CHEAP
11 free/cheap choices.
11 PICKS

10th Annual Naperville Pumpkin Race

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYNaperville
Sat noon–3 PM; community heats 1–2 PM · Free admission; optional racer kit purchase · Naperville

Halloween Window Painting

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDowners Grove
Sat 9 AM–noon · Free; canned-food donation requested · Downers Grove

Glen Ellyn Halloween Festival & Parade

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYGlen Ellyn
Sat 9:30 AM–noon; parade 9:45 AM · Free · Glen Ellyn

Lemontster Trick-or-Treating

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYLemont
Sat noon–2 PM · Free; shopping extra · Lemont

Howl O’ Ween Dog Parade

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYGeneva
Sat 9–10 AM · Free · Geneva

Harvest on Harrison

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTOak Park
Sat 11 AM–4 PM · Free public street event; optional purchases/workshops extra · Oak Park

Hinsdale Fall Family Fest

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYHinsdale
Sat 11 AM–2 PM · Free; food extra · Hinsdale

Lantern-Lit Halloween Hike

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTWarrenville
Fri–Sat 6–9 PM; last hike departure 7:30 PM · $10 per person · Warrenville

LOTUS Illuminated Art at Paddleboat Quarry

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTNaperville
Fri–Sat after sunset–10 PM · Free · Naperville

Monster Mash Bash

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYOswego
Sat 2–4 PM · $6 per child preregistered; $9 at door; adults free · Oswego

Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYAurora
Sat–Sun 11 AM–4 PM · $11 ages 1+; pumpkins to decorate extra $3 · Aurora
TICKETED + HIGHER COST
11 ticketed choices.
11 PICKS

Halloween Hayday

TICKETEDFAMILYGeneva
Sat 10 AM–1 PM · Child 14 and under $11 resident/$13 nonresident advance; $13/$16 door; adults free · Geneva

Pumpkin Patch Pool Party

TICKETEDFAMILYAurora
Sat 5:30–7:30 PM · $13 resident/$15 nonresident early; $15/$17 day-of; under 2 free · Aurora

Spooky Trail

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTWest Chicago
Fri–Sat 7:30–10 PM · $15 presale; $18 at door · West Chicago

Hayride of Horror & Curse of the Bayou

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLockport
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 6–9 PM · Single attraction $15 Fri/Sun or $20 Sat; combo $25 Fri/Sun or $30 Sat · Lockport

Behind the SCREAM with David Arquette

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTAurora
Sat 8–10 PM · $41–$71 base; VIP $171; phone/online fees extra · Aurora

Harland Williams Stand-Up

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTBatavia
Fri–Sat 7 PM and 9:30 PM performances · From $47.99; fees/priority seats extra or unconfirmed · Batavia

Pumpkin Palooza

TICKETEDFAMILYNaperville
Sat 9 AM–2 PM · Included with museum admission: $22 adults/children, $21 seniors; under 1/members free; online $1 off · Naperville

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns

TICKETEDFAMILYDATE NIGHTGlencoe
Fri–Sun 6:30–10:30 PM; timed entry · Nonmembers from $24 adult/$17 ages 3–12 + $3 per-ticket fee; parking $15 advance/$25 on-site · Glencoe

Ride the Cyclone

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICArlington Heights
Fri 7:30 PM; Sat–Sun 2 PM and 7:30 PM · $25–$49; applicable ticket fees extra · Arlington Heights

New Philharmonic: A Tribute to Scotland

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICGlen Ellyn
Sat 7:30 PM; Sun 3 PM · About $58 adults/$56 seniors; online ticketing fees may apply · Glen Ellyn

Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Haunted Barn

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTWest Chicago
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 7–9 PM · Haunted Barn $20, Hayride $25, combo $38 online; separate $10 weekend farm admission may apply · West Chicago
OCT
25

Sunday

Also featured above: Family Spooktacular

FREE + CHEAP
7 free/cheap choices.
7 PICKS

Halloween Hop

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYNaperville
Sun 10 AM–noon · Free; shopping extra · Naperville

Halloween Happening

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYNaperville
Sun 1–4 PM · Free; food vendors extra · Naperville

Halloween Fest, Costume Contest & Parade

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDowners Grove
Sun noon–1 PM · Free · Downers Grove

Downtown Trick-or-Treating

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDowners Grove
Sun 1–3 PM · Free; shopping extra · Downers Grove

Tinley Park Boo Bash

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYTinley Park
Sun noon–4 PM · Free entry; food/drinks sold · Tinley Park

Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYAurora
Sat–Sun 11 AM–4 PM · $11 ages 1+; pumpkins to decorate extra $3 · Aurora

Chicago Toy Show

FREE / CHEAPFAMILYDATE NIGHTSt. Charles
Sun 8 AM–3 PM; Sat early-buyer preview separately · $10 adults; 12 and under free; Saturday early-buyer pass $50 · St. Charles
TICKETED + HIGHER COST
5 ticketed choices.
5 PICKS

Hayride of Horror & Curse of the Bayou

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLockport
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 6–9 PM · Single attraction $15 Fri/Sun or $20 Sat; combo $25 Fri/Sun or $30 Sat · Lockport

Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns

TICKETEDFAMILYDATE NIGHTGlencoe
Fri–Sun 6:30–10:30 PM; timed entry · Nonmembers from $24 adult/$17 ages 3–12 + $3 per-ticket fee; parking $15 advance/$25 on-site · Glencoe

Ride the Cyclone

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICArlington Heights
Fri 7:30 PM; Sat–Sun 2 PM and 7:30 PM · $25–$49; applicable ticket fees extra · Arlington Heights

New Philharmonic: A Tribute to Scotland

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTLIVE MUSICGlen Ellyn
Sat 7:30 PM; Sun 3 PM · About $58 adults/$56 seniors; online ticketing fees may apply · Glen Ellyn

Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride & Haunted Barn

TICKETEDDATE NIGHTWest Chicago
Fri–Sat 7–10 PM; Sun 7–9 PM · Haunted Barn $20, Hayride $25, combo $38 online; separate $10 weekend farm admission may apply · West Chicago
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