Halloween tends to challenge parents with younger children on where to go and what to do to celebrate the season in a safe environment. Most children are too young to visit typical haunted houses, aiming to scare even the bravest souls. Here’s a look at some family-friendly attractions around Illinois that offer fun Halloween experiences for families without the nightmares that can follow some haunted attractions.
Fun Halloween Events In Illinois include:
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm – Homer Glen
Bring the entire family to the pumpkin farm for a day of fun. No matter the age, Bengston’s in Homer Glen has something to entertain everyone. While kids 12 and older can check out the animated ghosts and creatures at the Haunted Barn, younger children can take a fun-filled Halloween venture through the Fun Barn. Afterward, everyone can enjoy a hay ride as you hunt for the perfect pumpkin to make this year’s jack-o-lantern. Located 43 minutes southwest of Chicago, the pumpkin farm offers nearly 20 attractions, including a petting zoo and train rides. You can also launch gourds with the Pumpkin Chucker or enjoy the pig races.
Haunted House at Foster Park – Chicago
Designed for the entire family, the Haunted House at Foster offers fun scares 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. Sponsored by the Chicago Park District, the haunted house presents a few ghosts and goblins for the little ones to see without giving them nightmares later. Families can also enjoy refreshments during their visit.
Scary Park – Peoria
Located at Peoria’s Wildlife Prairie Park, families are invited to participate in fun events like haystack rides and animal encounters. Of course, there will be trick-or-treating for the younger ghouls and goblins. Activities aimed at older children will also be offered. Remember to check out the rest of the park beforehand. Held annually for more than three decades, Scary Park is open Friday (5-10 p.m.), Saturday (2-10 p.m.) and Sunday (2-8 p.m.) Oct. 19-21 and 26-28.
Old Timey Halloween – Museum of the Grand Prairie – Mahomet
Combine history with fun as visitors participate in the annual Old Timey Halloween at the Museum of the Grand Prairie at the Lake of the Woods Preserve in Mahomet. The free two-hour program starts at 1 p.m. on Oct. 26. Kids of all ages can learn about Halloween traditions while creating holiday masks and playing 19th-century games.
Halloween fun – Springfield
Springfield’s streets will be filled with monsters and spirits as the city celebrates Halloween with various activities from Oct. 26-28. Zoolie Ghoulie at the Henson Robinson Zoo welcomes young monsters and ghouls to participate in trick-or-treating and explore not-too-scary exhibits and activities on Oct. 26-28.
The second annual Halloween Parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 27. Featuring floats, costumes, and other festive entrants, the parade route starts at the Old State Capitol Plaza.
Celebrate Halloween at the Market helps wrap up the 2018 season of the Farmer Market at the Old State Capitol Plaza. Children 12 and younger are encouraged to wear their favorite costumes and enter contests for prizes. There’s also a costume contest for pets.
From a pumpkin farm with all the trimmings to fun events in the state’s capital, Halloween Events in Illinois provides families many options for a safe celebration. So, enjoy the treats, and don’t worry about the tricks.
Peoria is just a couple hours away for us and we have been to this one. We always enjoy all the different pumpkin patches and apple farms during the fall.
This sounds like a lot of fun! We used to always do pumpkin patches when the kids were smaller, but now they are too old for most of the stuff there. We do like the scary places though!
So many fun things to do. We are doing Boo at the Zoo. It’s always a fun time as the zoo isn’t as crowded and the kids get candy. Win win!!!
This looks like you can do so many Halloween themed things for people in your area. I know we have the parade but Illinois has more it seems.
What great fun! Our 15 year old now traipses about with his pals on Halloween and the weekends, but I am getting back into the groove and plan to wear a full Chewbacca outfit to give out candy!
Those all sound like so much fun. One of my favorite activities in the fall is to visit a local corn maze and/or go apple picking at a pick your own orchard.
Halloween is such a fun time of year. I bet these will be a blast! The not so scary part opens it up to more people.
I bet Chicago has a lot of fun events. My daughter used to live there and is moving back in May.
Halloween can be a difficult time with smaller kids for sure. This list looks like fun. So glad you created it.
These all sound like amazing events. I would love to attend some of them with my family.
My kids haven’t been to a haunted house and yes it would have to be not so scary for a 9 and a 6-year-old. But I think there’s probably something around here we could do for them. Great ideas.
This is a great list of fun stuff to do with little ones on Halloween. I like to trick or treat early with my daughter and her friends and their moms—before all the teens come out to play.
Lots of fun events and if we was closer I would attend them. Because I know my family would have a lot of fun.
So many fun things to do in Chicago! We have a number of Halloween events here as well. We went to 2 last weekend.
Looks like there is no shortage of things to do! How fun, It’s a great time and lots of fun things to keep families busy!
Such a great list of things to do in Illinois. My friend is going next week, so I’ll send her this. Thanks!
Sounds like some awesome events going on. I love attending all kinds of Halloween events. They’re always so much fun, especially for the kids.
These are some really nice places to head to with the family around Halloween. I like the fact that they seem to be great fun and at the same time will not scare the wits out of small or sensitive kids.
How cool! Looks like you have a few fun events that are not so scary. I would like to check to see if we have one in our city too. Thanks for sharing!