Evanston Halloween 2018 Events And Trick-Or-Treating Guide

EVANSTON, IL — There is a wide selection of Halloween events planned in Evanston this year by local community groups, businesses and governmental bodies. Find out more about this month's spooky happenings around town below.

Saturday, Oct. 20

The Zombie Scramble, now in its fifth year, is a two-mile race where participants must avoid having "zombies" grab flags from flag football belts. If you lost all your flags, you become an "infected" racer. The event will end with a party at the Ecology Center including games, a raffle and snacks. Waves begin every seven minutes and participants must register for a specific wave. (Waves begin 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. , Ladd Arboretum, 2024 McCormick Blvd., $20)

Sunday, Oct. 21

BCBoo Little Monster Mash Halloween Bash will feature live performances, a light dinner, trick-or-treating, spooky games, a ninja warrior course, snacks and more. (4 - 6:30 p.m., Little Beans Cafe Evanston, 430 Asbury Ave., $15 per child, $10 per adult.)

Friday, Oct. 26

A Spooktacular Fright Night is planned as Fleetwood-Jourdan turns into a haunted house, along with arts and craft activities, food, face painting and more fun family-friendly events. (7 to 9 p.m., Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster Ave., free.)

Saturday, Oct. 27

Trick-or-Treat Trot for Tails Walkathon is a two-mile walk now in its fourth year raising money for the Evanston Animal Shelter Association, the nonprofit the funds the care of animals at the Evanston Animal Shelter. It is a dog and family-friendly event. Participants sign up to walk, create a fundraising goal and raise money from friends and family. The course heads from Centennial Park to Lee Street and back. (10 a.m. - noon, Centennial Park, 1821 Sheridan Rd., $10 for individual, $25 for a team of 4.)

At the Downtown Evanston Halloween Parade & Party, bring your costumed kids to trick-or-treat at downtown businesses starting at noon and participate in Halloween activities. Find a map of participating businesses at Bottle & Bottega Evanston, 1016 Davis St., or Gather, 602 Davis St. The Holiday Inn Chicago North-Evanston will host an event after trick-or-treating starting at 3 p.m. with Halloween-themed activities, music, a candy bar for kids and a cash bar for adults. (Noon - 5 p.m., Downtown Evanston and Holiday Inn, 1501 Sherman Ave., free)

Sunday, Oct. 28

The Day of the Dead Celebration celebrates Día de los Muertos and will feature a performance from the Academy of Mexican Dance and Music. There will also be interactive arts stations where families can create ofrendas together and an all-ages costume parade. Mexican food and drink will be available for purchase. (4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Avenue, free)

Tuesday, Oct. 30

Pizzafest provides a spooky combination of fun, good eats and prizes for the best costumes, featuring all-you-can-eat Gigio's pizza and drinks. The event is a benefit to provide financial assistance for ETHS students to attend summer sports camp at the school. (5 - 8 p.m., Gigio's Pizza, 1001 Davis St., $15 for adults, $6 for kids 12 and under.)

The BOO-Quets Halloween Celebration offers the chance to create two fall centerpieces out of pumpkins with Random Acts of Flowers Chicago. Participants keep one and the other is delivered to a children's hospital or a home for women with developmental disabilities. Wearing costumes is encouraged, refreshments and appetizers will be provided and the event is BYOB. (7 to 9 p.m., RAF Chicago Workshop, 2000 Greenleaf St. Suite 5, $45.)

A Spooky Story Reading at the Charles Gates Dawes house will feature a night of terrifying tales from authors such as Edgar Allen Poe and Shirley Jackson. Costumes and reservations are encouraged. (7 p.m., Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St., $20 for non-members, $15 for members.)

Wednesday, Oct. 31

A Preschool Halloween Party at the Robert Crown Center offers non-frightening fun for kids aged 5 and under, including games, prizes, music and refreshment. (10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1701 Main St., $5 per family.) And Time Together, an open public gym for children up to age 4 at the Chandler-Newberger Recreation Center, will be free for children who arrive in costumes. (9 to 11 a.m., 1028 Central St., free)

Evanston's official trick-or-treat hours are scheduled to run from 4 to 7 p.m. Trick-or-treaters are asked to respect the privacy of homeowners and not ring doorbells outside of that period or if an exterior light is not illuminated. Young trick-or-treaters should use sidewalks and be accompanied by a parent, caregiver or older sibling.

» To submit another Halloween event for our list, send information to Evanston@Patch.com

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Safety tips to prevent Halloween from being truly scary this year:

• Do not eat any treats until they are examined by an adult.
• Stick to the village's designated trick-or-treat time and pick subdivisions and areas with many homes.
• Plan a safe route so you know where your children are at all times. Set a time for their return home. If your child goes out with just friends, make sure he or she has a cell phone.
• Stay with a group if trick-or-treating without an adult. Let parents know who you are with and where you are going.
• Stay in well-lighted, populated areas and do not wander off alone.
• Never enter a stranger's home, back or side yard or get into a stranger's car. Call 911 or go to a neighbor's house for help if in trouble or a stranger bothers you.
• Carry a flashlight, glow stick or wear reflective tape to make costumes more visible to cars.
• Make sure costumes are flame retardant or have been treated with fire retardant spray. Avoid masks that limit vision. Use make-up instead.
• Consider reviewing the locations of registered offenders forbidden from handing out candy.

More from Patch:

• Illinois Haunted House Guide 2018
• Illinois' Haunted Best Place To Visit
• Fall Fests Worth Checking Out In Chicago Area
• Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2018
• Local Haunts: 5 Haunted Spots In Illinois
• Apple Orchards, Corn Mazes Open For Fall Season