THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – In a Halloween Mood Yet?
Not feeling in the Halloween mood yet? Well, you better get with it since Chicagoans take this holiday seriously! Perhaps some of the events taking place this weekend will get you started on the right path.
Grab a friend or two and head over to Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up located on a two-acre plot of land just west of Goose Island at 1265 W. Le Moyne Street in the River West neighborhood. This larger-than-life outdoor adventure features over 10,000 pumpkins in their fall wonderland; a large corn maze with a hidden bar; festive photo ops for instagramable memories; axe throwing; carnival games for your inner competitor; fortune tellers; gem mining; and more. There’s an experience here for everyone at this one-of-a-kind pumpkin patch in Chicago!
Treat your four-legged family member to the Halloween Pup Crawl this Saturday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) in the Lakeview neighborhood at the corners of North Halsted and West Aldine Streets. Be sure your pooch is dressed in their Halloween best so they can strut their stuff as they stop for treats, giveaways, and prizes along the way. You can even have a professional holiday photo taken at the Miss Foozie photobooth. In addition, brunch is available on Lark’s awesome patio (open to all dogs) with Miss Foozie hosting a raffle drawing and some fun Q&As to win prizes at 2 p.m. Best of all, the raffle winner need not be present!
Enjoy a magical evening with Arts in the Dark this Saturday (6 p.m.-8 p.m.) on State Street between Lake and Van Buren Streets in The Loop. This parade celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” with a dazzling production of unique floats, spectacle puppets, creative performances, music, dance, and more! It’s even been recognized as one of the top 6 Halloween events in the world. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the magic this fall!
Perhaps Nightmare on Clark Street is more up your alley. Now through October 31st, your host the Bamboo Club (3505 N. Clark St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood brings you a Halloween-themed extravaganza with a multi-level haunted house along with their upstairs bar serving spooky cocktails. Beware!
Join the International Museum of Surgical Science (1524 N. Lake Shore Dr.) in the Gold Coast neighborhood as they host a Haunted Soiree now through October 31st (6:15 p.m.-11:15 p.m.). This haunted macabre-style cocktail event invites their guests to dress up and roam around at their leisure in the historic Eleanor Robinson Countiss House where they can indulge in themed mini-cocktail tastings, enjoy extravagant entertainment, macabre magic, surreal specters, interactive guest experiences, and uncover the surreal ghost story that lies at the heart of it all!
If you’re up for a little drive, check out the Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns this Saturday and Sunday (6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.) at the Chicago Botanic Garden (1000 Lake Cook Rd.) in the northern suburb of Glencoe. This popular event is a more tranquil Halloween experience to get you in the holiday spirit with their ghoulish makeover. Lighting up the night with hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins that are colored with vibrant LED lights, visitors can stroll the gorgeous grounds and admire the impressive jack-o’-lanterns that were handcrafted for hours by expert artists. Plus, the grounds are filled with snack bars selling tasty fall bites along with seasonal beer, ale, and even spiked cedar. It’s an amazing party of lights!
Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago
