Halloween isn’t complete without adding some horror to your life. Kids of all ages can enjoy a little spooky fun thanks to these local attractions. From haunted houses and barns to spooky hayrides and walks, we’ve rounded up all the best places to get in all the age-appropriate scares and thrills this month.
Scarecrow Trail at The Morton Arboretum
Oct. 1-31, 2023
- Address: 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
- Cost: Free w/museum admission
Walk the trail of scarecrows made by local scout troops and be sure to vote for your favorite. You will see nearly 50 different scarecrows along the way. Voting takes place in the Visitor Center.
Itasca Haunted Trail – Family Friendly Hour
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 650 N. Rohlwing Road, Itasca
- Cost: $7 (cash only)
Families can traverse a 1/3-mile trail around Ray Franzen Bird Sanctuary for scares and trick-or-treating. Ages 11 and under must be with an adult at all times.
Woodridge Haunted Forest Walk – Saturday Matinee
Oct. 20-21, 2023
- Address: 2600 Center Drive, Woodridge
- Cost: TBA
Wind your way through the haunted forest trail that is full of scary scenes and dark corners lurking with creepy creatures in Hawthorne Hills Woods. The Saturday afternoon session is recommended for children 9 and under.
Westmont Haunted Forest – Merry Monsters
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 300 W. 59th St., Westmont
- Cost: $8
Participants will hop on a wagon ride that takes them from Diane Main Park through the terrifying woods path scenes. Recommended for ages 9 and under.
Westmont Haunted Forest – Sheer Terror
Oct. 21, 2023
- Address: 300 W. 59th St., Westmont
- Cost: $8
Sandra Smith Woods will come alive for one mystical, magical night! Participants will board a hay wagon for the first part of the journey through the woods and then hope to survive the second part of the tour as they try to escape the ghouls on foot! Recommended for ages 10-plus.
Ackerman Haunted Trail
Oct. 26-27, 2023
- Address: 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn
- Cost: $5, free/ages 3 and under
Take a walk along the haunted trail through Ackerman Woods and enjoy Halloween-themed games. Refreshments will be available for purchase. The trail will be less scary from 4-6 p.m. Registration required.
Halloween Horror House at Sherwood (Jesse) Park
Date TBA
- Address: 5701 S. Shields Ave., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Head to Sherwood (Jesse) Park for a family-friendly, ghoulish haunted house.
Haunted House at Avalon Park
Date TBA
- Address: 1215 E. 83rd St., Chicago
- Cost: $5
Ages 6-12 can enjoy getting spooked in a ghoulish haunted house.
Trick or Treat Trail at Community Arts Center
Oct. 20, 2023
- Address: 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove
- Cost: $5/resident child, $7/non-resident child, free/adults
Check out this no-scare trick-or-treating trail, which features friendly characters, games, prizes, entertainment and more family fun. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Registration required for children.
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm
Through Oct. 31, 2023
- Address: 13341 W. 151st St., Homer Glen
- Cost: Included in general admission
Kids can stick their heads in a guillotine, and groove to the terrifying tunes creeping out from the Little House on the Scary or enjoy the animated Haunted Barn.
Haunted House at Wolfe (Richard) Park
Date TBA
- Address: 3325 E. 108th St., Chicago
- Cost: Free
Families can join Wolfe (Richard) Park for a creepy and ghoulish haunted house.
Sonny Acres Haunted Barn
Through Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago
- Cost: Included in general admission
The Haunted Barn at Sonny Acres is themed, “Curse of the Scarecrow” for 2023. Go through the old abandoned barn, which has creepy characters (including the Scarecrow) chasing you throughout the maze and twists and turns. For ages 12 and up.
Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride
Through Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago
- Cost: Included in general admission
This haunted hayride is for all ages. You’ll ride through the enchanted woods where you will see and experience creepy live action characters at every turn. There will also be animatronics, pyro techniques, vibrant lighting, sound effects, music and more along the way.
Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch Haunted House
Through Oct. 30, 2023
- Address: 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington
- Cost: Included in general admission
The Fall Festival at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch brings back classic autumn activities from a corn maze to wagon rides. Take a walk through the haunted house, which features 10 rooms designed for school-aged children.
Six Flags Fright Fest
Through Oct. 29, 2023
- Address: 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee
- Cost: Included in general admission
The theme park offers six haunted houses and nine scare zones. Entertainment will be the Ringmaster’s Cabaret with music, illusions and freakish acts along with Love at First Fright, The Nightmare Rhythm Machine, The Witching Hour and The Uprising Parade: Nightly Call of the Dead. There are Ghoul Rides, too. 6 p.m. and later is recommended for ages 13-plus.
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