Looking for a spooky good time? These are the 10 best Halloween events in Chicago.
Experience the fright of your life at The Godfrey Hotel's spooky haunted rooftop.
I|O at The Godfrey Rooftop Asylum
Take all of your October frights and delights to I|O at The Godfrey. This exclusive 21+ Halloween bash invites guests to enjoy nine horror-themed igloos along with fire performers, a host of frightful characters, a contortionist and more. The I|O itself will be transformed into a haunted hospital, serving a festive menu that includes a charcuterie skull; toxic waste mac and cheese made from cavatelli, pesto, truffle and black pepper; novelty cocktails such as transfusion punch; and creepy cake pops. VIP admission, private igloos and bottle service will be available for a limited time. Oct. 30, 8pm-2am, 127 W. Huron St.
Halloween Murder Mystery Wine Dinner at Uvae Kitchen & Wine Bar
The ultimate Halloween collab has arrived. Andersonville’s Uvae Kitchen & Wine Bar and The Dinner Detective team join forces to host a five-course murder mystery wine dinner with a theater show as well as fine wine pairings from an extensive menu. Highlights include pumpkin soup with crème fraîche, spiced pepitas and cilantro; roasted maitake mushrooms served with truffle risotto and black currant reduction; or pan seared scallops. Costumes are encouraged for optimal Halloween fun. Oct. 31, 6pm, 5553 N. Clark St.
Chicago Park District’s Campfire Horror Movie Series
Get into the Halloween spirit at the Chicago Park District’s fifth annual Campfire Horror movie series, returning on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 pm. Northerly Park will kick off this seven-film feature with The Birds, followed by Scream, Little Shop of Horrors and Beetlejuice every Friday throughout the month of October; Dvorak Park, Sherman Park and North Park Village Nature Center will also join the fun with spooky flicks of their own on selected Saturdays. Bring your own blankets and chairs and prepare for a night of fright with timeless Halloween classics.
This go-to Chicago favorite is here to amaze you—now with a new Halloween upgrade. The Museum of Illusions has decked out its interactive displays with haunting decorations that play right into the beloved visions that we know and love. Experience spooky new twists on famous exhibits such as Head on a Platter, Vortex Tunnel, Infinity and Anti-Gravity Room—all with Insta-worthy photo ops—through Oct. 31. Guests 21 years and older are welcome to enjoy Spooky Hours, an event featuring beer and wine by Left Coast and an in-house magician, taking place Oct. 7, 14 and 21 at 8 pm. 25 E. Washington St.
The Gwen Hotel Halloween Classics on the Terrace
Looking for an sophisticatedly spooky celebration? The Gwen Hotel has you covered. Embark to the Terrace at Upstairs at The Gwen to catch screenings of two legendarily scary movie classics: Night of The Living Dead and House on Haunted Hill. Enjoy with a specially curated cocktail menu inspired by the tarot cards drawn for sculptor Gwen Lux, the hotel’s namesake. This exclusive menu will be available throughout the month, with highlights such as the Ace of Wands, made with clarified milk punch, Rhine Hall apple brandy, bourbon, chai vanilla tea, lemon, orange, mixed herbs and whole milk; and The Empress, featuring both Blanq and Plantation Xaymaca rum, Italicus, falernum, sour cherry gin, pomegranate shrub, pineapple, lime, angostura and Pilsner. Oct. 13 & 27, 6:30pm, 521 N. Rush St.
Trick-or-treat fun in Wicker Park
Show off your costumes at Wicker Park’s perfect Halloween celebration. Chicago families looking for a safe and fun night of trick-or-treating can enjoy this socially-distanced candy excursion hosted by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. Twenty-five local businesses will take to The Bucktown Green to hand out candy, while dozens more will do so at their storefronts throughout the neighborhood. Make sure to stop at the festive Halloween photo wall for Insta-worthy family photos. Oct. 31, 1-5pm, 1714 N. Hoyne Ave.
Replay Lincoln Park Slasher Museum
Add some fear to your Halloween cheer at Replay Lincoln Park, which bring favorite horror icons to life with its newest installment: Slasher Museum. This Chicago fave has revamped its gaming lounges into a macabre manor, decked out with frighteningly realistic replicas of famed movie killers from Michael Myers to Freddy Krueger. This pop-up promises a month of Halloween fun, with costume contests, a movie-themed arcade, horror-inspired cocktails, periodic film screenings and plenty of memorable photo ops. Through Oct. 31, 2833 N. Sheffield Ave.
Arts in the Dark UPSIDE DOWN Parade
LUMA8’s Arts in the Dark Parade makes a magical return this year. Witness unique floats, puppets and dazzling performances drawn from key institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and After School Matters, as well as rising local artists from each of Chicago’s 50 wards. This October staple has not only become a salute to Chicago’s cultural community, but an iconic display of the city’s artistic diversity, collective innovation and creativity. After the show, attendees can take home a bag of goodies and have an opportunity to engage in an information exhibition with each performance group. Oct. 30, 6-8pm, State St.
13th Floor Chicago & The Old Haunted Joliet Prison
Looking for a Halloween attraction that’s sure to terrify? Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group’s 13th Floor Chicago promises a haunted house that’ll leave you shaking in your boots with two spine-chilling new features: Bad Blood and The Spirit of Halloween. Attendees can enjoy a carnival-like throw of games, eats and drinks on select dates until November 13. Afterwards, head over to The Old Joliet Haunted Prison, Chicagoland’s first and only haunted house inside a real abandoned prison. The space will be completely transformed with two original attractions: The Forsaken and Ghost Chamber. 5050 River Road; 401 Woodruff Road
Raven’s Curse: A Haunted Ravenswood Experience
Blur the lines between virtual and physical worlds at Redline VR, now hosting a new immersive Halloween adventure: Raven’s Curse: A Haunted Ravenswood Experience. Patrons are invited to explore the abandoned, once raven-infested town of Raven’s Wood set 200 years in the past, where a mad doctor is said to still guide the ravens to their next human meal as unsuspecting townspeople move back to the town. Additional experiences include the OsoreVR Haunted House walkthrough and VR Zombie Shooting, which allows gamers to battle zombies in virtual reality with Arizona Sunshine. Oct. 8-31, 4702 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Photography by: COURTESY OF THE GODFREY HOTEL CHICAGO; COURTESY OF WICKER PARK BUCKTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
