A ghoul on Michigan Avenue. Photo credit: TheeErin via Flickr.
Right up there with St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween is another holiday that seems even more popular with the post-college crowd than it does for the kids. Thankfully, aside from the bars, there are lots of family-friendly Halloween activities for kids in Chicago so it’s a holiday any visitor can enjoy.
For Kids
Downtown, the impending Halloween holiday is evident throughout the month of Chicago as “Chicagoween” takes over several spots around the city. There are pumpkin patches and hayrides, haunted houses, and puppet shows. Daley Plaza becomes “Franken Plaza” and fountain water is dyed neon orange. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, spooky stories and scary movie screenings. The Saturday before Halloween, there’s a parade downtown features locals and adults in costume
For Adults
Halloween, or the Saturday closest to it, is one of the biggest bar nights of the year in Chicago. Most bars host costume contests and people come decked out in their best funny, sexy, or scary, costumes. If you’re headed to a club or any bar that has a contest, expect to pay a cover charge. A few bars stubbornly refuse to get into the holiday spirit; if you want to avoid the Halloween scene, these pubs and lounges are your best bet. Check the local Red Eye paper to get the scoop on club happenings around the city.
-Katie Hammel
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October 2, 2012 by Katie Hammel
Festivals & Events, Things to Do