THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO — Celebrating the Festival for the Dead – Halloween!
Did you know that Halloween is said to be more Irish than St. Patrick’s Day? Its origins come from an ancient Celtic festival for the dead called “Samhain.” The Celts believed the ghosts of the dead roamed Earth on this holiday, so people would dress in costumes and leave “treats” out on their front doors to appease the roaming spirits. Well, here in Chicago, we’ll be appeasing those roaming spirits ourselves this weekend!
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Spooky Zoo Spectacular held at Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 N. Cannon Dr.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) will have even more special Halloween-inspired activities for its guest. This family-friendly event features family entertainment on the main stage, a Toddler Zone filled with activities, Fall Fest rides & activities, a Haunted House, educational arts & crafts, trick-or-treating throughout the zoo and more! Don’t forget to wear a costume or the spirits will find you!!
No Halloween celebration is complete without stopping by Halloween at Navy Pier located at 600 E. Grand Ave. in the Streeterville neighborhood this Saturday, Sunday & even Monday! The Pier will be featuring a wide-variety of Halloween-themed events both free & ticketed which include Pier-wide trick-or-treating, a costume contest (Sat. 5 p.m.), an outdoor screening of “The Addams Family” in Polk Park (Sat. 6 p.m.), a spooktacular Halloween fireworks show (Sat. 9:30 p.m.), a Haunted Maze of 4,800 square feet of pure terror (Sat. 6 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 4 p.m.-8 p.m.) and much more!! And, of course, Saturday night brings an evening of haunted grandeur with two parties – The Haunted Halloween Ball (Aon Grand Ballroom, 8 p.m.) and the Saints & Sinners at Lakeview Terrace for an evening of luxury and fright!!!
Don your best Halloween costume for the River North Halloween Crawl this Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the River North neighborhood. Participants will crawl from bar to bar at River North’s best bars where their ticket gets them a dinner buffet, three gift cards to use on the crawl and a chance to compete in the Costume Contest! And, if you’re not ready to call it quits at midnight, the following bars are open until 5 a.m.: Clark St. Ale House, Social 25 and Boss Bar!! Celebrate safely!!!
Experience a night of thrills at Chicago’s biggest Halloween bash the Haunted Halloween Ball at the 122-year-old Congress Plaza Hotel (520 S. Michigan Ave.) in The Loop this Saturday (9:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.). Classified as one of the most haunted hotels in the world by USA Today, costumed party-goers will experience both a luxury hotel gala and the terror and chills of a haunted house as the ballrooms are transformed into an abandoned hotel run by zombies! This experience also includes a cash bar with top shelf cocktails, celebrity DJs, VIP table service and much more!! BTW, there’s a $3,000 cash prize costume contest!!!
Lastly, The Logan Theatre (2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in the Logan Square neighborhood is wrapping up their 5th Annual Horror Movie Madness Festival with the following films being shown this weekend:
Nosferatu w/Live Accompaniment (1922) – this Saturday (10:30 p.m.)
A full, authentic silent film experience enhanced by Chicago’s foremost photoplay organist, Jay Warren, who brings all the color, excitement, and glamour of the silent film era back to life with his original scores for the silver screen.
Nosferatu w/Original Score (1922) – this Sunday (10:30 p.m.)
Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter’s wife. Silent classic based on the story “Dracula.”
Halloween (1978) – this Saturday and Sunday (11:00 p.m.)
On Halloween night of 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers stabbed his sister to death. After sitting in a mental hospital for 15 years, Myers escapes and returns to Haddonfield to kill.
It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown – Family Matinee, this Sunday (3:00 p.m.)
Finally, for more Halloween in Chicago events & haunted tours taking place this weekend, just click this link!
Do You Dare to Join Us as We Celebrate the Festival for the Dead?
SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
