Glencoe, Community

Record Roundup: Local trick-or-treat hours and 20+ spooktacular events

What a difference a year makes.

Armed with more knowledge and data about COVID-19, local event organizers have again packed the calendar with frightening, festive and family Halloween events in our coverage area of Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield and Kenilworth.

With a focus on outdoor scares, the events range from local classics, like the botanic garden’s Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-lanterns and Wilmette’s Pumpkin Walk, to new adventures, such as a Community Pumpkin Lighting and multiple Trunk-or-Treats.

The events really ramp up Halloween weekend, as children prepare to trick or treat, for which local villages have released official hours. Each town sanctions different hours, and Kenilworth a different day, as residents reportedly prefer trick-or-treating to fall on a weekday to align with the school’s halloween parade, according to a message from the Kenilworth Police Department.

Like very year, villages provide safety tips for trick-or-treaters, home owners and motorists, and similar to last year, officials add precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Some of the universal tips are to plan a costume with a mask, practice social distancing and clean hands frequently. Residents are also encouraged to provide a bowl of treats and allow trick-or-treaters to choose candy, while maintaining a safe distance.

See trick-or-treating hours and tips below.

WILMETTE
Hours: 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31
Village Safety Suggestions
Printable Trick Or Treat Signs

WINNETKA
Hours: 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31
Village Safety Suggestions
Printable Trick Or Treat Signs

GLENCOE
Hours: 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31
Village Safety Suggestions
Printable Trick Or Treat Sign (participating)

NORTHFIELD
Hours: 3-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31
Village Safety Suggestions

KENILWORTH
Hours: 3:15-dusk Friday, Oct. 29
• According to the Village, when Halloween falls on a weekend, trick-or-treating occurs on the preceding Friday to coincide with the Joseph Sears School Halloween Parade.

EVENTS

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns
When: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 13-17 and 20-24
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Details: More than 1,000 carved pumpkins will be on display along a paved path that will included costumed entertainers, live carving demos and more over the two-week stretch. Some of the jack-o-lanterns are more than 150 pounds, while others are carved by professional artists and feature superheroes, celebrities and nods to Chicago. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $12 for children ages 3-12.

Kenilworth Mutt Strutt
When: 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Oct. 16
Where: Kenilworth Business District along Green Bay Road
Details: Dress up your pup and take him on a trick-or-treat jaunt to a number of participating businesses in an event brought to you by the Wilmette-Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Christensen Animal Hospital.

Pumpkins in the Woods
When: 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22
Where: Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Old Green Bay Road, Winnetka
Details: Join the Winnetka Park District as it turns the park into a Halloween smorgasbord with pumpkin decorating, carnival games, bounce houses, a costume contest (most original, scariest and funniest) and more. Pumpkins and decorations can be purchased by Oct. 11 for $5 for residents/$10 for nonresidents. They will be available the day of the event for $7/$12.

Spooky Skate
When: 6-7 p.m. and 7:15-8:16 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22
Where: Watts Ice Center, 305 Randolph Road, Glencoe
Details: Watts turns into a spooky roller rink for this event as participants (ages 3 and up) will skate through Halloween decorations and music for $15/$20 per session. Registration is required and includes skate rental or guests can bring their own.

Pumpkin Decorating
When: 10-11 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23
Where: Winnetka Public Library, Lloyd Room, 768 Oak St., Winnetka
Details: Registration is booked for the early time slot, but some seats remain for the 11:15 event in which ages 5-8 can decorate (with paint and craft materials) a mini pumpkin to take home.

Superhero Tractor Ride
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23
Where: Winnetka Park District, 540 Hibbard Road, Winnetka
Details: This “scarefree” tractor ride will feature everybody’s favorite superheroes and plenty of candy. Open for all ages for $10/$20. Register before Oct. 18.

Trunk or Treat (Winnetka)
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23
Where: Skokie Playfields, 600 Hibbard Road, Winnetka
Details: For the inaugural event, the theme is “Monster Bash” and decorated car trunks will be the source of candy for trick or treaters ($3 per). There is no charge for participating cars, which will be entered in a contest for a chance to win a 2021 family beach pass. Reserve a spot by Oct. 10. For more information, contact Marty Kwiatkowski at (847) 716-1299 or mkwiatkowski@winpark.org.

Unsolved Hollywood Murders
When: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25
Where: Winnetka Public Library, Lloyd Room, 768 Oak St., Winnetka
Details: Author Susan Gibberman will review three of Hollywood’s most infamous unsolved murders: William Desmond Taylor, George Reeves and Natalie Wood. Registration is required.

Mary Shelley: The Intricate Riddle of Life
When: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26
Where: Winnetka Public Library, Lloyd Room, 768 Oak St., Winnetka
Details: Actress Debra Miller portrays “Frankenstein” author Mary Shelley and tells of her interesting life. Registration is required.

Classic Monster Mash (virtual)
When: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28
Where: Zoom Webinar from Wilmette Public Library
Details: Steven Frenzel, of Maruqee Filmtalks, leads a presentation on monsters in movie history, focusing on the University monster movies of the 1930s and ’40s. And might there be an appearance by Abbott and Costello?

Family Halloween Spectacular
When: All day Friday-Sunday, Oct. 29-31
Where: Winnetka Public Library, children’s area, 768 Oak St., Winnetka
Details: Children are encouraged to drop by the youth department throughout the weekend and show off their costumes, participate in festive activities and receive a special treat bag.

Halloween Hello
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Downtown Glencoe businesses
Details: Local businesses will welcome trick or treaters to stop by for a treat or two throughout the day through this program from the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce. Afterward, the Glencoe Historical Society, will present Ghosts of the Garden at 377 Park Ave.

Create Your Own Spooky Temporary Tattoo
When: 2-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Winnetka Public Library, studio, 768 Oak St., Winnetka
Details: Drop-in guests are encouraged to make their own temporary tattoo or color in an existing template that is then cut by the library’s vinyl cutter.

Boo Bash (Glencoe)
When: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Henry Kalk Park, 298 Park Ave., Glencoe
Details: This family-friendly event for children 2 and up includes games, treats and surprises. Wear a costume and bring a treat bag. Registration is required at $10/$12 per participant.

Halloween Horror Trivia (virtual)
When: 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: online on Kahoot!, register here
Details: Test your knowledge of popular horror topics, including stories, movies, characters and more. Winners of each round will receive a bundle of popular horror movies and books from the Winnetka Public Library.

Boo Bash (Northfield)
When: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Clarkson Park, 1950 New Willow Road, Northfield
Details: The park district invites children ages 3-8 to wear costumes for this free outdoor event that will include games, a balloonist and a train ride.

Pumpkinpalooza Workshops and Community Pumpkin Lighting (CANCELED)
When: Oct. 25-27; 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Community Recreation Center; Mallinckrodt Park, 1960 Elmwood Ave., Wilmette
Details: Friday’s portion of this event has been canceled because of inclement weather. Three days of pumpkin carving and decorating will lead to the inaugural Community Pumpkin Lighting at the end of the week. Ages 5 and up can sign up for the carvings at $25 for residents and $32 for nonresidents. Then, on Friday, those pumpkins will be collectively lit during an event that includes dinner and is $8 per resident or $10 per nonresident.

Trunk or Treat (CANCELED)
When: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Where: Mallinckrodt parking lot, 1041A Ridge Road, Wilmette.
Details: This event has been canceled because of inclement weather.
Register as a vehicle ($33/$44) and decorate your car to participate and receive two bags of candy to pass out from the Wilmette Park District, or register as a trunk-or-treater ($10/$13), dress up and collect candy from all the spooky trunks.

LEGO Haunted House
When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 30
Where: Community Recreation Center, 3000 Green Bay Road, Wilmette
Details: Build a Halloween trap with LEGOs and see if your mini LEGO figure can make it through. Registration is $50 for residents and $63 for nonresidents.

Linden Square Pumpkin Walk
When: 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Oct. 30
Where: 4th Street and Linden Avenue, Wilmette
Details: A family event featuring trick or treating at area businesses with a petting zoo, balloon animals, a photo booth, and more activities. Brought to you by the Wilmette-Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce.

Howl-o-ween Pet Parade
When: 11 a.m.-noon Sunday, Oct. 31
Where: Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette
Details: Enter your costumed pooch ($5) in this Chalet tradition, in which the dressed-up dogs (and owners) will walk the nursery to be judged in a number of categories (creative, humorous, owner/dog look-a-like, original, breed appropriate). A doggy-treat truck will also be on hand. Proceeds benefit Orphans of the Storm animal shelter.

Halloween Party on Ice
When: 1:40-2:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, and 1:20-2:35 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31
Where: Winnetka Ice Arena, 490 Hibbard Road, Winnetka
Details: Costumes are encouraged for the Halloween skate, for which regular rates apply ($6.50 ages 6-17; $7:50 18+). No masks that cover the entire face are permitted.

Trick or Treat Scavenger Hunt
When: All day Sunday, Oct. 31
Where: Chalet Nursery, 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette
Details: Drop by Chalet in costume and look for tricks, treats and more throughout the afternoon.


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joe coughlin
Joe Coughlin

Joe Coughlin is a co-founder and the editor in chief of The Record. He leads investigative reporting and reports on anything else needed. Joe has been recognized for his investigative reporting and sports reporting, feature writing and photojournalism. Follow Joe on Twitter @joec2319

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