FEATURED EVENTS

A traditional Mexican game of chance similar to bingo, Lotería is played with a deck of illustrated cards depicting familiar objects and symbols. This special edition of Lotería features custom, Arboretum-themed cards illustrated by artist Jazmin Rodriguez. A bilingual emcee will lead the games in Spanish and English. Lotería winners will receive Arboretum-themed prizes and prizes donated by local artisans.

Bengtson’s Farm is Chicagoland’s premier destination for Fall fun! With over 25 incredible attractions, 14 family-friendly rides, adorable animals, delicious treats, and endless photo ops, it’s the perfect place to make lasting memories. Bengtson’s offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere and non-stop fun for everyone! Bengtson's has been Chicagoland’s favorite fall festival and pumpkin patch since 1981. Enjoy unlimited rides, pig races, and live music; plus explore 3 exciting walk-through attractions and 3 interactive experiences. Kids will love our 4 playgrounds, 18 unique photo-ops, petting zoo, and giant corn box! Treat yourself with local food vendors, savory snacks, sweet treats, refreshing drinks, and adult beverages.

Taking in the beautiful fall colors at Cosley Zoo is a must-do! Come see the animals and take in the thousands of pumpkins that line the zoo’s lawn. Children’s rides are available for an additional fee. Apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, cornstalks, and various sizes of straw bales are also available to purchase. Check out the fall merchandise in the Wild Side Gift Shop, too! Proceeds from your purchases benefit Cosley Zoo. Regular admission rates apply.

Curious about bugs and excited for the Halloween Season? Introducing "INCREDIBLE INSECTS": an interactive walk-through exhibit at The Butterfly House @navypierchicago ONLY for the month of October! This exhibit features all sorts of AMAZING bugs from all over the world, including giant spiders, tarantulas, scorpions, stick bugs, giant beetles, and more!! Get a closer look at the astounding adaptations of each species in terrariums throughout the garden.

A curious teen (Omri Katz) moves to Salem, Massachusetts with his younger sister (Thora Birch) and accidentally awakens a trio of witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) while trying to impress a local girl (Vinessa Shaw). *Closed Captioned Start time is approximate, all movies begin at dusk.

Chicago children and their families will BECOME the parade when they don their costumes and join the procession down tree-lined Russell Drive. Dance teams, musicians, acrobats, sports mascots and other spectacles will dazzle them as they make their way down the route – and the first 5,000 kids will receive a complimentary candy bag and other goodies at the closing arches! Don’t miss your chance to join the fun!

Children can come dressed in their costumes to collect candy from cars decorated for Halloween at our 7th annual Trunk or Treat. Activities include arts & crafts, games and more! Event takes place in front of the building...you can't miss it! Special thanks to Alderman Sposato for supporting this annual event! Halloween in the Park is presented by MARS.

Explore the wonders of the museum through workshops for ages 3-5! T. rex Teeth and Tails explores what made Tyrannosaurus rex one of the most remarkable dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth. Through imaginative play, hands-on activities, and museum exploration, we will discover how T. rex used its powerful teeth and strong tail to eat, balance, move, and survive.

Get ready for pumpkins, games, and plenty of autumn fun at Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, Chicago’s massive outdoor fall festival on Goose Island! Wander among thousands of pumpkins, snap photos at festive fall displays, and see if you can find your way through Downtown Chicago’s only corn maze. The fun also includes carnival games, gem mining, food and seasonal treats like apple cider donuts, plus axe throwing for guests 18 and older and seasonal drinks for the 21+ crowd. Open September 19 through November 1, 2026, Jack’s welcomes all ages for a colorful city spin on a classic fall outing.

Bring your family to the Nature Museum for a Pumpkin Painting Party! What better way to welcome in the fall than by getting together to decorate a pumpkin that you can take home and cherish? Draw inspiration from the critters around the museum, or paint from your heart! Drop by any time between 10:30am-2:00pm to join in the festivities. Acrylic Craft Paint and brushes will be provided, and there will be smocks available to help cover your clothes. And after you've painted your pumpkin, explore the museum while you wait for it to dry! Tickets to the Pumpkin Painting Party include General Admission to the Nature Museum. Tickets to the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven must be purchased additionally. Pumpkin supplies are limited.

The Auditorium and Chicago Philharmonic present Edward Scissorhands in Concert, featuring GRAMMY®‑winning composer Danny Elfman’s acclaimed score performed live to picture. Since its release in 1990, Edward Scissorhands has become one of the most celebrated collaborations between Elfman and director Tim Burton, with critics frequently citing the score as a defining element of the film’s emotional world. The score’s distinctive blend of choir, orchestra, and storybook textures has been widely praised for shaping the film’s dreamlike atmosphere. Experience the film’s iconic imagery and Elfman’s unforgettable music brought to life by the Chicago Philharmonic in one immersive evening at The Auditorium.

DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2 is that rare sequel that’s a worthy successor to the original! When Hiccup and Toothless discover a secret ice cave with wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, they find themselves in an epic battle to save the future of man and dragons! How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert features this spectacular sequel presented in HD with composer John Powell’s thrilling score performed live to picture by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an awe-inspiring experience for the whole family.

Explore the fascinating and fun world of medieval animals and monsters through this painting workshop! Mix-up, mash-up, or completely reimagine monsters and animals in an individual medieval-style painting or add your flair to our collaborative mural! Space is limited in Art Studio, Pritzker Playspace, and Tinkering Lab. Free passes are available 1 hour before the workshop starts at each workshop location.

The crown jewel of cello repertoire, Dvořák’s heroic and soulful Cello Concerto marks the return of Jian Wang, a soloist with a lustrous sound and compelling interpretive ideas. Selections from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty transport you to the Golden Age of ballet, painted in a thousand wondrous sounds. Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider opens the program with music from his native Denmark, in Nielsen’s quicksilver Maskarade Overture.

Search for tiny, enchanted, homes built by mythical elves. These homes, built with natural materials, are hidden along our Farm Pond Trail. Scan the QR codes to learn more about the wee folk’s homes and to share eco-friendly messages.

What do a crawfish, a cowboy mouse, and a 100-year-old woman have in common? They are all characters in Fiesta Mexicana, Sones de Mexico Ensemble’s interactive family concert. This lively performance, perfect for all ages, takes audiences on a fun adventure with good music and stories. From the lush, tropical Huasteca region with a tale about “La Acamaya” to the festive finale with a folk version of “La Bamba” from Veracruz, enjoy a musical journey that celebrates Mexico’s diverse heritage. Bring the whole family and get ready to sing, clap, and dance along!

TenderFest is the ultimate celebration of one of America’s most beloved foods: the chicken tender. For one day only, TenderFest takes over Navy Pier in Chicago, bringing together some of the best chefs, restaurants, and tender makers in the country for an all-you-can-taste celebration of crispy, golden perfection. Taste your way through signature tenders, exclusive creations, and plenty of sauces as contenders compete for TenderFest glory. Between bites, expect cocktails, music, entertainment, unexpected experiences, and a few surprises along the way. Your ticket includes access to the festival and unlimited tender tastings from participating contenders.

Experience the sub and the story of its thrilling capture on a two-hour, private group tour offered before Museum hours on select Saturday and Sunday mornings. In-Depth Experience tickets include the morning refreshments and exclusive tour, and General Admission for the rest of the day. Age recommendation: ages 10 and up.

Get ready for an evening of spectacular music at Chicago’s beautiful Holy Name Cathedral when internationally acclaimed organist Adam Brakel fills the cathedral with music on Tuesday, October 20, at 7 p.m.! Hailed as an “absolute organ prodigy” by National Public Radio, Brakel has dazzled audiences around the world with his extraordinary talent, bringing music to life on the cathedral’s magnificent pipe organ, an instrument with more than 5,500 pipes! Families don’t need to know anything about classical music to appreciate the excitement of hearing such a remarkable instrument fill the cathedral with sound. From delicate melodies to thrilling, room-filling music, this concert offers a wonderful opportunity for kids and grown-ups to discover just how amazing a live musical performance can be. Free parking is available in the cathedral’s garage at 14 W. Superior Street.

Join us Sunday, October 11 from 10 AM–3 PM for a day packed with fall fun for the whole family! Outside activities are FREE, and museum admission is ½ price thanks to our generous sponsors! Gather the family and join us for an afternoon filled with games, vendors, outdoor play, art, and fun activities for everyone to enjoy!

Lincoln Park Zoo shines brighter than ever during ZooLights, when more than 3 million lights and hundreds of nostalgic LED displays transform the zoo into a glowing holiday wonderland! Stroll through a twinkling light tunnel, catch the narrated South Lawn Light Show, ride the Ferris wheel for sparkling views and the Chicago skyline, or warm up with hot cocoa, churros, and s’mores around a fire pit. Families can also hunt for hidden ornaments in the ZooLights Scavenger Hunt, take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel, visit Santa through December 23, and enjoy seasonal characters, strolling carolers, and live ice carving on select nights. ZooLights runs November 20 through January 3, 2027, from 4:30–9 p.m., with admission free on most Mondays with a required reservation.

Escape the Museum returns for another thrilling year with a brand new experience. After a sold-out run last year, Griffin MSI is hosting eight nights of Escape the Museum: The Infinite Grid, a story centered around our new exhibit, Powering the Future. This giant escape game asks you to find clues and solve puzzles as you explore the Museum after hours.

Join Cosley Zoo at Boo Bash, a new Halloween event created with neurodiverse children and their families in mind. Explore the zoo at your own pace in a safe, low-sensory way with activities that are fun, accessible, and engaging for all. Costumes are welcome. Registration is required.

Join us for a fun-filled brunch in the Pavilions! Enjoy a live Interactive DJ spinning spooky tunes, capture memories at our spine-tingling photo ops, and enjoy spooky face painting for all kids – included! Every child also receives a free pumpkin to decorate at our festive Pumpkin Painting Station. Indulge in our Halloween-Themed Buffet, featuring classic brunch favorites with a hauntingly good twist. Sip on our signature Witches' Brew Lemonade, with optional adult potions (beverages available for purchase)!

Go on a guided Monarch Migration Walk with a museum staff member. Learn more about how monarch butterflies do their fall migration from September to November and the life cycle of the butterflies, as well as the Mexican celebration Día de los Muertos and its connection to monarch migrations. Participants will meet in the lobby before starting the walk.

Dare to walk an eerily enchanting path, aglow with artist-carved pumpkins for Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns—featuring glowing tributes to Chicago sports teams, plant monsters, famous vampires, pets in Halloween costumes, and fan favorites from ten seasons of ghostly gourds. Among them, 75 giants tip the scales at 150 pounds each. Watch live carving in action, meet costumed characters, and enjoy playful frights around every corner. With five extra nights to explore and light bites available for purchase, it’s a spirited evening of family-friendly fun—just creepy enough to keep you on your toes.

Join us for the Pumpkin Train on 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th. Enjoy a ride to our pumpkin patch aboard Halloween-themed electric interurban trains. While at the patch, ask our farm hands to help you find the perfect pumpkin, and pose for pictures in our various colorful, life size cutouts, as well as an antique farm tractor and hay wagon. Catch the next pumpkin train back to East Union, and consider riding any of the other trains operating that day. Don’t forget to visit our Schroeder Store and take time to visit the rest of the campus. There’s a lot to see! Plan your visit here.