Halloween in Chicago
Like Christmas, Halloween is a big deal in Chicago. From haunted houses, to spookey costume parades and pumpkin decorating contests, you won’t be bored this Halloween in Chicago. 
Here is a list of some of Chicago’s most popular Halloween events and happenings.
Boo! at the Zoo – October 23 and 24 the Brookfield Zoo (3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL; map) puts on a Halloween party that includes a haunted house, scarecrow building, a corn maze and more. Festivities begin around 11 a.m. and run all day. Admission is free.
Spooky Zoo Spectacular – Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark Street) puts on its own Halloween fun on October 25 all day long with a haunted house, arts and crafts and more. Admission is free.
The Fear Haunted House – Through November 1, visit Navy Pier‘s (600 E. Grand Avenue) most thrilling attraction, The Fear Haunted House that includes scarey creatures and noises at every turn. All creatures are actors from the Zombie Army, who have an impressive resume of “haunted house” acting. Expect to see a werewolf, ghosts from a shipwreck and more. Tickets are $20 and hours vary by day. For a complete schedule, visit The Fear Haunted House’s Web site.
Chicagoween at Franken Plaza – During the last week of October, Daley Plaza (50 Washington Street)becomes Franken Plaza with costume parades, pumpkin decorating contests, circus performers and more. Admission is free. Dates and hours vary throughout the week. For a complete schedule, visit Chicagoween’s Web site.
Bonus Tip: Close to Chicago is Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery on the edge of the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve near Oak Park (143rd Street & the Midlothian Turnpike). People say they have seen red glowing balls hovering above and faintly visible figures walking past them, including the White Lady who wanders the ground with a baby in her arms. Some 150 burials took place in the cemetery from 1844 through the 1980s. On the outside of the graveyard is a pond said to be haunted by a man and a horse pulling a plow. Legend has it the man drownded in the pond after his horse got startled tangling the man in its reins.
Photo credit: SXC
