After School Halloween Programs
All children love the fun of picking out the ideal costume, the day-long thrill of black cats and ghosts around every corner, and the anticipation of finding their favorite candies at the bottom of the bag. To help parents find suitable alternatives to traditional trick or treating, the Chicago Park District (CPD) is providing after-school Halloween parties in neighborhoods throughout the city. At these parties, kids show off their costumes, enjoy games, have fun with friends and still get a bag full of great candy all in the safety of their local park. All CPD Halloween parties are either free of charge or have very low admission fees.
On Friday, Oct. 28, head over to one of these parties!
Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd.
(773) 761-0376 3-5 p.m., ages 6-12, free
Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave.
(312) 742-7518 6-7:30 p.m., ages 3-10, free
Wrightwood Park, 2534 N. Greenview Ave.
(312) 742-7816 4-6 p.m., ages 8 & under, free
Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway
(312) 742-7502 4-6 p.m., ages 6-12, free
Gill Park, 825 W. Sheridan Rd.
(312) 742-7802 4:30-5:30 p.m., ages 6-12, free
Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield Ave.
(773) 478-3538 4-5 p.m., ages 6-12, free
Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave.
(773) 764-0338 7 p.m., all ages, free
Peterson Park, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
(312) 742-7584 4-5 p.m., all ages, free
Revere Park, 2509 W. Irving Park Rd.
(773) 478-1220 4-6 p.m., all ages, free
Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
(312) 742-7511 3-4 p.m., all ages, free
Halloween Treats and Sweets Party in North Center
The Northcenter Chamber of Commerce and Samland Healthcare, Inc. will host a Halloween event for adults and kids called Treats and Sweets. Adults purchase $25 pumpkins filled with treats: gift certificates, coupons and small gift items with a value of up to $250. With a purchase, they will receive a smaller pumpkin filled with sweets for kids. Kids can also enter a Halloween costume contest and decorate a pumpkin. Refreshments and music will add to the festivities and even blood pressure will be done in the spirit of the event .
Treats and Sweets is Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Northcenter Town Square on Belle Plaine Ave. between Lincoln and Damen avenues. Judging the children's Halloween costumes will be Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) and some local celebrities. For details, call (773) 525-3609 or visit www.northcenterchamber.com.
Pumpkins will also be on sale through the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce from mid-October through Oct. 29, and will be available for purchase at the Northcenter monthly luncheon on Oct. 26, at Deleece, 4004 N. Southport Ave. They include gifts from American Theater Co., Biasetti's Steak House, Brownstone Tavern, Cole's Appliance, Community Home Discount, Doll Lady's Hospital, Elite Sportscards, JR Kids hair salon, Jury's, Lincoln Square Pottery Studio, Lincoln Restaurant, Waveland Bowl and others.
Test your fear factor at Trails of Terror
The Chicago Park District's Trails of Terror, located at 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. at Peterson Park in North Park Village, kicks off its seventh year of fright along its half-mile, wild and wooded path on Friday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The event will continue during those same hours through Sunday, Oct. 23, as well as the following weekend, Oct. 28-30.
This year's Trails of Terror crawls with freaks, creeps and ghouls of all kinds in 18 scenes, along the half-mile outdoor trail. Billed as one of Chicago's largest and scariest Halloween events, Trails of Terror is not recommended for young children. The entry fee for Trails of Terror is $8 per person for ages 15 and older; $6 for ages 8 to 14.
The Trails of Terror information hotline is (312) 747-1477. General information about Trails of Terror and many other Chicago Park District Halloween activities is available online www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Search for Great Pumpkin
The Chicago Park District brings a little bit of the country to the city with its annual fall Pumpkin Patches. Local parks on the city's North Side will offer fields filled with pumpkins of all sizes, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, pony rides, a petting zoo, fall harvest photos, face painting and refreshments.
"Our Pumpkin Patches are the perfect way for families to celebrate the fall season at their own local parks," said Matt Marino, Chicago Park District North Region Manager. "We invite all Chicagoans to come out and enjoy a safe, fun and entertaining afternoon in their parks searching for the great pumpkin."
Pumpkin Patches are held on Saturdays in October from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets for individual activities range from 50¢ to $3, and ticket packages including all activities are available for $15 each. Tickets will not be sold after 2:30 p.m. Please call your local park or (312) 742-PLAY for additional information. North Side dates and places are listed below.
* Saturday, Oct. 22, Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., (773) 478-3499
* Saturday, Oct. 15, Peterson Park, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., (312) 742-7584
* Saturday, Oct. 29, Oz Park, 2021 N. Burling St., (312) 742-7898
Dracula Fest offers free spooky fun
Join Shapeshifters Theatre, if you dare, for their annual Halloween celebration for two nights in October. Dracula Fest will take place on Oct. 28 and 29 and feature free movie screenings with everyone’s favorite bloodsucker, Dracula. Both screenings are free. Shapeshifters Theatre is the resident theatre company of the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
On Friday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m., Shapeshifters will screen the 1931 classic black-and-white version of “Dracula” starring Bela Lugosi. The screening will take place in room 310, with free snacks and a cash bar. The movie screening will be followed by a social, with a collection of Halloween classic music. Costumes are welcome.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. Shapeshifters will screen “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992) with Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman. The screening will take place in room 310, with free snacks and a cash bar. Don your scariest costume for post-movie fun, when the group will join the Center’s Haunted Hallways Halloween Party in the Fifth Province Pub. The Chancey Brothers will provide the entertainment and there will be prizes for everyone in costume.
For more information on Dracula Fest or all IAHC events, call the IAHC at (773) 282-7035, ext. 10.
Outrageous & ghoulish on N. Halsted St.
Head to N. Halsted St. to celebrate Halloween. Nothing in Chicago compares with the area's annual North Halsted Halloween Parade, and local merchants are gearing up for the event offering numerous Halloween costumes, decorations, gifts and tricks for everyone. There's even a children's fund-raising opportunity with Lakeview Pantry.
"North Halsted Street is unique in that our businesses band together to give customers an area for one-stop Halloween shopping," said Gloria Shoff, Executive Director of Northalsted Area Merchants Association (NAMA). "From unique clothing stores to signature dishes from the best neighborhood restaurants, all businesses are set to provide a 'fun ghoulish experience.'"
Ragin' RaeJean's, 3448 N. Halsted St., is home to creative decorations and make-up items. Can't think of a costume or you forgot to get one? Ragin' RaeJean's expert staff will apply gory face make-up to give you that scary look without a scary price tag. Artists will be available 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Halloween weekend.
Be sure to visit Beatnix, 3400 N. Halsted St., where partygoers can select the perfect Halloween costume from a collection ranging in price from $5 to $205. Costumes are available now through Nov. 1 from noon to midnight Sunday, noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The store has extended hours on Halloween day, opening at 10 a.m.
If you visit Batteries Not Included, 3240 N. Halsted St., you'll find odd, funny and risqué costumes — more than 250 unique and complete costume sets that simply can't be described. Prices range from $19.95 to $100.
On Halloween night, Cold Stone Creamery (3510 N. Halsted, 773-248-3510) will get into the spirit by giving $1 off any creation to each customer who comes in a costume. Enjoy seasonal ice cream flavors based on the star ingredient, pumpkin: Pumpkin Pie in the Sky (pumpkin ice cream, caramel and graham cracker pie crust served with whipped cream) and Harvest Crunch (pumpkin ice cream, walnuts, Heath bar, and caramel). Both homemade specialties are available throughout October and November and come in three sizes to fit everyone's appetite: Like It ($4.49), Love It ($4.89) and Got to Have It ($5.19). And if you need a little fall pick-me-up, throughout the month of October, Cold Stone Creamery will tempt you with their new espresso and caramel latte ice cream.
Stop in at Kafka Wine Company, 3325 N. Halsted St., to celebrate the second anniversary Halloween Spooktacular. There will be door prizes and complimentary wine tasting all Halloween weekend. And on Halloween night, resident DJ Plez spins music in front of the store.
Firefly, 3335 N. Halsted St., is a great place to dine before, after, or even during the Oct. 31 Halloween parade. They'll be featuring $3 vodka-lemonade punch along with their regular menu from 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Roscoe's Tavern and Café, 3356 N. Halsted St., is hosting two big contests, Best Costume and Best Drag, beginning at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31. Winners will receive cash or prizes valued at $4,000. First place winner in both categories will get $500, second place $300 and third place $200 in both contests with gift prizes for runners up. Sign-up begins at 9 p.m. The contests are limited to 30 participants on a first come basis so get there early to sign up!
Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., is hosting The Night of 100 Drag Queens XIII, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Oct. 25-26. For details visit www.sidetrackchicago.com.
Additional Halloween offerings include the Fall Arts Review at The Leigh Gallery, 3306 N. Halsted St., featuring works reflecting the spirit of the season including autumn landscapes and witches.
Also, Lakeview Pantry, which offers non- profit, emergency food distribution at 3831 N. Broadway, is sponsoring its second annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat drive during Halloween. "This is a fun and educational way for kids to learn about philanthropy and to provide for those in need," says Angela Joyce, development associate for Lakeview Pantry. Parents are encouraged to pick up a goody bag and instructions at Lakeview Pantry and while trick or treating, children are asked to collect small donations (10¢ to $1) for the Pantry. Participating children receive a craft kit, surprise holiday gifts and a head start on Halloween candy. For more information, call Lakeview Pantry. Goody bags area available now through Halloween from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Northalsted Area Merchants Association (NAMA) once again sponsors the 9th Annual North Halsted Halloween Parade, presented by the Triangle Neighbors Association. Groups meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at Spin, 800 W. Belmont Ave. The parade begins at 7 p.m. This spectacular event brings a crowd of 15,000 people, including participants and spectators, all in the ghoulish Halloween spirit. |
