By: Ashmar Mandou

Experience the spookiest time of year in Chicago with the help of these spectacular, supernatural haunts all across neighborhoods. These family-friendly events are just what you need to celebrate from nighttime parades, to jack o lanterns, Lego building, to donning an elaborate costume for the city’s Halloweek Costume Competition, and beyond.

Arts in the Dark
LUMA8’s annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade will return to State Street at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 30, as the finale to the City of Chicago’s “Halloweek” program. Now in its 7th year, this event has drawn together over 50,000 guests and participants for a magical evening parade that celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday.” Don’t miss this dazzling event that delights with unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances—all set against the backdrop of historic State Street.

YMCA Brings Family Fun this Halloween
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago invites all ghosts, ghouls and goblins to its many Halloween celebrations happening this weekend in Chicago’s Woodlawn, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, as well as in Naperville and Palatine. Activities and pricing vary by location and may include haunted houses, trunk-or-treat stations, costume contests, trail walks, magic shows and more.

Friday, Oct. 29th
4pm-8pm
South Side YMCA (Woodlawn)
6330 S. Stony Island Ave.
Free to attend; $2 to visit Haunted House

Friday, Oct. 29th
5pm-8pm
McCormick YMCA (Logan Square)
1834 N. Lawndale Ave.
Free to attend

Saturday, Oct. 30th
Noon to 3pm
Kelly Hall YMCA (Humboldt Park)
824 N. Hamlin Ave.
Free to attend

Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead may coincide with Halloween, but the beloved Mexican holiday is a one-of-a-kind celebration. The National Museum of Mexican Art is the perfect place to experience it, with an annual exhibit dedicated to Day of the Dead customs and traditions. The exhibit, Día de Muertos – A Time to Grieve & Remember, will run from Sept. 10 to Dec. 12, 2021. And don’t miss the Día de los Muertos Celebration at Maxwell Street Market featuring music, a sugar skull workshop, pumpkin decorating and more on Oct. 31.

Celebrate Spooky Season at Navy Pier
Iconic Navy Pier is going all out for Halloween this year! Check out what’s happening this October on the lakefront:

• Pier Pumpkin Lights will transform the Pier’s outdoor areas into a glowing fall spectacle.

• Offshore, the world’s largest rooftop bar, is hosting two Halloween events: a Paint and Sip party on Oct. 20 and a Halloween costume party on Oct. 30.

Costume Contest
The City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District are hosting the first-ever, online Halloweek Costume Contest. Individuals and families (including pets) are encouraged to upload photos of their BOO-tiful costumes to enter the Halloweek Photo Contest. The contest is open to Chicago residents. The City wants to see your Halloween spirit! Tag @ChicagoParks on Instagram to share a picture of your 2021 Chicago Halloweek costume or upload your picture to www.chicagohalloweek.org to qualify to win a 10 lb. Blommer Chocolate Bar. Contest runs through through October 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (CST). For a complete set of official rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/halloween or www.chicagohalloweek.org/costumes.

Brick-Or-Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago
Chicago’s best Halloween party built for kids is bringing back the Spooktacular way to play with LEGO bricks! Through October 31st, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Brick-or-Treat transforms the ultimate indoor LEGO playground into the perfect Halloween spot to build family memories. Families can enjoy many activities including a hauntingly fun MINILAND where families can spot all the spooky scenes in our Chicago landscape, help our Master Model Builder create a 5 foot tall LEGO Dracula, create a Spooktacular creation using glow-in-the-dark LEGO bricks, and complete an attraction wide scavenger hunt for LEGO pumpkins for their chance to win a Halloween prize. For a list of planned activities, attraction hours and ticket prices, visit: Top Kid’s Attraction | LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago