Record Roundup: 34 opportunities to celebrate spooky season in the North Shore

Summer may be officially over, but that can’t stop North Shore residents from getting outside and enjoying the season together.

The Record has compiled this comprehensive list of all the different street festivals, seasonal workshops, spooky attractions and trick-or-treat gatherings scheduled in the area this autumn.

We miss something? Let us know at newsroom@therecordns.org.

JUMP TO: WILMETTE | HIGHLAND PARK | SKOKIE | GLENCOE | NORTHFIELD

WINNETKA 

Fall Scramble: 8 a.m. on Oct. 3, Winnetka Golf Club, 1300 Oak St.

Golfers looking to start off October with a friendly competition can participate in Winnetka’s Fall Scramble. The event costs $120 a player or $80 for passholders. That includes the greens fee, cart fee, drink tickets, lunch and prizes. The four-person scramble begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. 

The Witch Project: 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, Winnetka Chapel, 630 Lincoln Ave. 

A one-night-only show in Community House Winnetka presents a “spellbinding love letter” part “performance art, part detective story, part concert featuring the music of queer icons.” Written and performed by Alex Benjamin, the act reportedly draws on themes of persecution and desire, from the witch trials to the AIDS crisis. Tickets cost $26.50.

Fall Beach Clean Up: 8-10 a.m. on Oct. 10, Lloyd Beach, 799 Sheridan Road

With autumn arriving, it’s time to “give summer a sustainable sendoff,” according to the Winnetka Park District. That means gathering at Lloyd beach to remove litter and help protect the local wildlife. Registration is recommended but not required. 

Middle School Six Flags Great America Trip: 4-10 p.m. on Oct. 16, Drop off and pick up at the Winnetka Park District Community Room, 540 Hibbard Road

The Winnetka Park District is offering local middle schoolers no-cost bus transportation to Six Flags Great America’s Fright Fest. Kids ages 12-15 are invited to travel together to the theme parks’ notorious Halloween-themed nights. Registration costs $60-$100. Dinner is not included. 

Winnetka Witches Ride: 1 p.m. on Oct. 18, from Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Road, to Fred’s Garage

Local women will dress in their witchy best and take a three-and-a-half-mile ride through town. A $75 donation per entry goes to support Henry’s Heroes, which funds epilepsy research and resources, and includes a raffle ticket for the post-event.

Pumpkins in the Woods: 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 23, Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Road

For some family-oriented fun, head to Hubbard Woods Park for some pumpkin decorating, carnival games, bounce houses, costume parade and more. A $7 registration gets you a pumpkin and decorations. Otherwise, all activities are free. 

Superintendent’s Revenge: 10 a.m. on Oct. 31, Winnetka Golf Club, 1300 Oak St.

If Winnetka’s Fall Scramble left you still wanting another golf competition, this event features the superintendent getting “his revenge with scary hold locations and other trucks up his sleeve.” It will begin with a “Shotgun Start and 2-person scramble. Tickets cost $40 or $25 for passholders. That includes greens fees, two drink tickets, prizes and a team skins game.

WILMETTE 

Wilmette Witches Ride: 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 10, corner of Harvard Street and Birchwood Avenue

Women from across the community will festively gather for this charitable ride through Wilmette, sprinkling candy along the way. More witches are welcome with the request of a $45 donation to benefit Erika’s Lighthouse, which offers mental health support to young people.

Wicked Wilmette: 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, Lakeview Center 7 Gillson Park, 800 Gillson Park Drive

An “evening of frightful fun” at Gillson Park and the Lakeview Center will feature bouncy inflatables, face painting, a hayride and costume contest. A series of Spooky Stations along the park paths will also provide treats and staff will have ready a decorating station for pumpkins you select from the pumpkin patch. Registration is only required for children but an adult must accompany each child. 

‘Mary Poppins Jr.’: 7 p.m. on Fridays, 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 30-Nov. 7

The young thespians of the Wilmette Children’s Theater will be staging a performance of “Mary Poppins Jr.” for the company’s fall production. Limited seating is available. Tickets cost $13 and go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 13. 

Pumpkin & Paws Fall Fest: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 24, Linden Square, 400 Linden Ave.

The Wilmette-Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free family-friendly festival this fall that will bring music, a pet parade, costume contest and petting zoo to Linden Square. Attendees can enjoy balloon-animal making, a photo booth and food and treats.

Spooky Skate: 1-2:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, Centennial Ice Rink, 2300 Old Glenview Road

Wilmette’s skating rink will be open to monsters and ghouls this Halloween as it invites all ages to skate in costume, play games and participate in a costume contest. General entry costs $8 for students, $9 for adults and $4 for 5 and under. Entry to the costume contest costs $5 but is free for ages 5 and under. 

HIGHLAND PARK/HIGHWOOD

Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival: Oct. 1-4, from Highwood City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave., Everts Park, 111 North Ave., and Highwood Metra station

In this 17th year of the festival, more family-friendly Halloween fun kicks off October. A carnival from 4-9 p.m. Oct. 1 starts the festivities followed by three days of pumpkin carving, live music, children and pet costume contests, pumpkin pie eating contests, trick or treating, interactive installments, food and drink, and plenty more. The event will support Service and Learning Together. For more info and to sign up for competitions, visit the event website.

Witches Brine Workshop: 5:30-6:45 p.m. on Oct. 8, Rosewood Beach Interpretive Center, 883 Sheridan Road

Get in the Halloween spirit by brewing your own witch potions, aka pickled vegetables. The Park District of Highland Park is hosting a workshop to teach residents how to brine your own pickled vegetables. Pre-registration costs $25 and is required for both children and adults. All participants will take home a jar of their own “spooky-season flavor.”

Stews & Brews: 4-9 p.m. on Oct. 10, Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave. 

Downtown Highland Park’s fifth annual Stews & Brews street festival is set to once again offer a great buffet of savory comfort foods, craft beers and live music. The free all-ages event will offer a range of stews from chili and posole to beef stroganoff and Hungarian goulash. Afraid of the chilly weather? The festival will feature even more fire pits and heat towers this year, a city website says. 

Build A Scarecrow/Night of 100 Scarecrows: 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road 

Grab your old clothes and head to the Heller Nature Center to create your own scarecrow to place along the center’s trails. The scarecrows will stay up until Halloween and can be picked up afterward. Pre-registration costs $14 and is required for all participants. 

Let’s Play! Fall Forest Exploration: 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 17, Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road

The Park District of Highland Park is helping celebrate “the magic of fall” by hosting a free outdoor event in partnership with The Alliance of Early Childhood. Attendees will wander through the prairie, collect acorns, make leaf prints and draw the landscape from a “cozy forest ‘sit spot.’”

Not So Spooky Spider Party: 10-11 a.m. Oct. 21, West Ridge Community Center, 636 Ridge Road

Beware of fostering a love of spiders in your little one after attending this event for children ages 2 and up. Attendees will read The Very Busy Spider, learn how they make their webs and create spider-themed crafts. Registration costs $10-$12 per child and all children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Day of the Dead Opening Celebration: Tarde de Catrinas: 3-6 p.m. on Oct. 24, Jens Jensen Park, 486 Roger Williams Ave.

This Day of the Dead celebration offers music, sugar-skull face painting and family-friendly activities. Participate in a cempasuchil flower ceremony at the Fountain of Memories or dress up as a Catrín or Catrina for the chance to win a prize. The event is for all ages and free to attend. 

Pumpkin Pool Splash: 1-2:30 p.m. Oct. 24, Park Fitness, 1207 Park Avenue West

The Park District of Highland Park will be splashing “colossal pumpkins” into its fitness center’s pool and inviting swimmers to splash alongside them for a “mesmerizing spectacle of color and excitement.” For ages 3-12, the event costs $15 for residents and $18 for nonresidents.

Halloween Candy Stroll: 2:30-5 p.m. on Oct. 30, Jens Jensen Park, 540 Roger Williams Ave.

Trick or treat one day early in the Ravinia District this fall by visiting participating businesses and joining in on fall activities at Jens Jensen Park. Stay tuned for more information, a city website says. 

SKOKIE

Scream Scene Haunted House: 7-10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 9-Nov. 7, Skokie Water Playground, 4701 Oakton St. 

The Record provided an inside look at the village park district’s notorious Scream Scene last year as it draws thrill-seekers from all over the Chicago area. Now it’s back again, transforming the Skokie water park along a different theme but one thing always remains the same: a horrifying clown maze. Tickets cost $14 per person. On the last weekend, lights are turned off and attendees navigate using only a glow stick. 

Halloween Skate and Costume Contest: 7:15-9:15 p.m. on Oct. 23, Skatium Ice Arena, 9340 Weber Park Place

The Skokie Park District is putting on some Halloween-themed family at the skating rink this fall. Trophies will be awarded to the top three costumes.General admission costs $10 and renting skates costs $4. 

Kooky Spooky Candy Trail: 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 24, Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St.

Candy and prizes are yours for the taking for attendees interested in visiting interactive stations along the Skokie Park District’s Kooky Spooky Candy Trail. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets cost $12 but only those ages 2-13 need a ticket. 

Halloween Treats: 1-2 p.m. on Oct. 24 Devonshire Cultural Center, 4400 Greenwood St.

This is a hands-on cooking class for young chefs interested in learning how to create and decorate Halloween treats. Instructed by Koala’s Kitchen, it’s a chance for those ages 6-12 to “enjoy festive goodies while learning basic kitchen skills” a park district website says. Tickets cost $26 for residents and $33 for nonresidents. 

Adults Over 60: Halloween Bingo Party & Luncheon Buffet: 12-2 p.m. on Oct. 27, Oakton Community Center, 4701 Oakton St.

Live entertainment, lunch buffet and bingo — what’s there not to like? Attendees are encouraged to dress up and register by Oct. 23. Tickets cost $20 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. 

Downtown Skokie Trick or Treat: 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 26, Downtown Skokie, Oakton and Lincoln

Downtown Skokie will offer a bonafide trick-or-treat route this Halloween that will include activity stations and music/DJs booths. The A trick-or-treat route will start at the Crafty Beaver parking lot and extend west on Oakton to the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, where the route extends even further north and south on Lincoln. Kids can pick up candy bags at the Crafty Beaver lot or at Krier Plaza. 

Murder and Mayhem in Skokie Walking Tour: 5:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 27, Skokie Heritage Museum, 8031 Floral Ave.

Want to learn more about Skokie’s “spine–tingling” past? Among other things, the Skokie Heritage Museum’s season tour will cover tales of a serial arsonist, the attempted murder of the village’s founding father and local ties to infamous gangsters. Tickets cost $15. Children under the age of 12 are free to attend with a paid adult.

Haunted Heritage Cemetery Walk: BOOm & Bust: 11a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 31, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, 8530 Harms Road

There’s a wealth of stories to be found in local cemeteries, and the Skokie Heritage Museum is here to tell them. Learn about the major booms and busts in Skokie’s development by walking St. Paul’s Lutheran and St. Peter’s UCC cemeteries. Each year reportedly features new stories and ghosts. Tickets cost $15 and children ages 7 and younger are free to attend with a paid adult. Tours last about an hour and depart from the cemetery’s gates every 10 minutes, with the last tour leaving at noon.

Weber Park Halloween Golf Tournament: 4 p.m. on Oct. 31, Weber Park Golf Course, 9350 Weber Park Place

This Halloween-themed golf tournament will pit teams against each other in a best ball competition on a course festooned with decorations and haunted challenges. There will also be music and costume contest (with categories like best team theme and funniest outfit). Registration cost $35 per player. 

GLENCOE 

Night of 1,000 Jack-O’-Lanterns: 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays, Oct. 7-25, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road

Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden this fall and you may find an assortment of giant decorated pumpkins, costumed performers and season treats and drinks. At least 75 gourds weighing 150 pounds have been added to the grounds and others have been charged to resemble famous movie characters, comic book heroes, Día de los Muertos traditions and more. Nonmember tickets purchased in advance cost $24 for adults and $17 for children ages 3-12.

Halloween Hello: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 30, Village Hall, 675 Village Court

The annual Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce Halloween event returns this year with trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses and a “Ghosts in the Garden” experience from the Glencoe Historical Society. The Glencoe Public Library and Village Hall will also offer family-friendly activities. 

NORTHFIELD

Boo Bash: 6-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, Northfield Park District, 401 Wagner Road

The Northfield Park District will be hosting games, crafts, a balloonist and a train ride through Willow Park. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and bring their trick-or-treat bag. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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