The 14 Best Fall Activities in Chicago

Who’s ready for a round-up of the best fall activities in Chicago??

While fall officially started on September 23rd this year, the weather in Chicago hasn’t really felt like fall until this week! Because of that, I’ve been holding on to the last bit of summer for as long as I could, but now it’s time to fully embrace fall y’all. With the crisp fall breeze rolling in and autumn leaves filling yards and parks across the city, it’s time to dive into the highly anticipated Chicago fall and Halloween activities. While the city itself may not have sprawling apple orchards or the world’s largest corn maze, it does have some of the most sought after fall fun! With Halloween only 2 weeks away, make sure you check out some of these activities this weekend!

The Best Fall Activities in Chicago:

Fall Fests:

Fall Fest on the Riverwalk:

• Where: Island Party Hut along the river
• When: Now through October 28th
• What: This fall fest features hayrides, live music, a pumpkin patch and fall cocktails
• Buy Tickets

Fall Fest at the Zoo:

• Where: Lincoln Park Zoo
• When: Fridays – Sundays from now until October 29th
• What: perfect for everyone in the family with a pumpkin patch, bouncy house, professional pumpkin carver and spiked ciders
• More Info Available Here

Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up:

• Where: 1265 W Le Moyne St in Bucktown
• When: Now through November 5th
• What: The ultimate fall destination and Chicago’s largest Halloween fest, featuring a corn maze and axe throwing (also very ‘instagramable’ if that’s what you’re into)
• Get Tickets

Halloween Experiences:

Garden of Decay:

• Where: Navy Pier
• When: Opens Friday, October 13th for only a select number of days until Halloween
• What: A haunting, narrative-led experience featuring immersive theater and art installations
• Learn More and Purchase Tickets

Bloody WHIM:

• Where: WHIM Cocktail Bar in Lakeview
• When: Now through November 5th
• What: An immersive Halloween experience featuring live actors, performances, and a Texas Chainsaw themed bar
• Tickets Available

Nightmare on Clark Street:

• Where: Deuces Major League Bar in Wrigley
• When: Now through October 31st
• What: A self-guided haunted experience featuring a house of horrors ending at the upstairs bar where a drink is included with your ticket
• Buy Tickets

Sweet Dreams the Halloween Experience:

• Where: 3650 N Clark Street in Wrigley
• When: Now through October 31st
• What: An immersive Halloween experience featuring scenes from class horror films
• Tickets

Witch Mixology Class:

• Where: JoJo’s Shake Bar in River North
• When: Now through November 7th
• What: Level up your bartending skills with this class where you’ll learn to make fall cocktails
• More Info and Tickets

Haunted Houses:

The Park After Dark:

• Where: Chase Park in Ravenswood
• When: Now through October 29th
• What: One of the only remaining haunted houses that takes place in a park in Chicago
• Buy Tickets

The Catacombs:

• Where: St Pascal church in Portage Park
• When: Now through October 29th
• What: A haunted house that takes place in the basement of a church
• Purchase Tickets

Halloween Movies:

ChiTown Movies:

• Where: 2343 S. Throop St in Pilsen
• When: Now through October 31st
• What: This drive-in movie theater is playing many of the classic Halloween movies throughout October
• Find the Movie List Here

Rooftop Cinema Club:

• Where: 311 N Morgan St in Fulton Market
• When: Now through October 31st
• What: Watch a Halloween classic outdoors with city views and your own personal headphones
• Movies and Tickets

Halloween Parades:

Arts in the Dark:

• Where: In the Loop on State St
• When: October 21 from 6 – 8 pm
• What: an evening parade that celebrates Halloween
• More Info

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade:

• Where: On Halsted from Belmont to Cornelia
• When: October 31st at 7:00 pm
• What: A spooky Halloween parade featuring a costume contest
• More Info

Comment below the activity you’re most looking forward to!