2017 Lake Forest, Lake Bluff Halloween Events Guide

LAKE FOREST, IL — There's a variety of Halloween events planned for Lake Forest and Lake Bluff this year. Spooky activities sponsored by local park districts and community groups are already underway and run until the end of the month.

» To add another Halloween event to our list, submit listings to LakeForest@patch.com

Friday, Oct. 20

Trunk or Treat brings families out to Blair Park in Lake Bluff along with specially decorated trunks, which are then opened up for kids to "Trunk-or-Treat." There will be a contest with prizes for trunk decorations and costumes, and popcorn and cider will be provided. Participants must bring their own candy. Registration required by Oct. 13 for trunks and Oct. 16 for kids, and the event is free for kids 12 and under. (Trunk setup 5:30 p.m., event 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Blair Park, 355 W Washington Ave.)

Sunday, Oct. 22

Rags to Witches is an all-ages, costumed, creative family-friendly spookfest offering live performances, hands-on art projects, games and seasonal tastings throughout "Lake Forest's most imaginative haunted estate." Features will include haunted hayrides, a scavenger hunt, an original play, ghost stories, creepy family portraits and snacks, sweets and a cash bar. (3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Ragdale, tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and $60 per household (max 4) when bought in advance, tickets at the door are $25 for adults and $20 for kids.)

Tuesday, Oct. 24

The Children's Halloween Party at the Lake Bluff Public Library will include stories and treats – but no tricks – for a not-too-spooky party. The library will also be holding drop-in Halloween craft hours between Oct. 23-31. (4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 123 E. Scranton Ave., free, no registration required.)

Thursday, Oct. 26

Hotel Transylvania is the Halloween movie scheduled to be showed at the Lake Bluff Public Library. No Registration is required. (4 p.m. - 5 p.m., 123 E. Scranton Ave., free, no registration required.)

Halloween Fun at Market Square is a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating around Market Square and a free Halloween bag, while supplies last. There'll also be a costume contest, face painting, a DJ and a photo booth. (4 p.m. - 6 p.m., free, no registration required.)

Friday, Oct. 27

The Pumpkin Fest in Lake Bluff will kick off Friday evening ahead of Halloween with a haunted shelter, the 5k Race and other park festivities. (5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Artesian Park, 10 E Sheridan Pl., free)

Halloween Tricks & Treats at the Rec Center will include a haunted hayride, a creepy science lab, a haunted zoo, refreshments treats and more. The event is aimed at preschoolers through third-graders with parents. (5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road, free, LF residents register using code 10390101-01 at LFParksandRec.com or by calling 847-234-6700)

Saturday, Oct. 28

Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, which benefits Lake Bluff School District 65, travels down the tree-lined streets of east Lake Bluff down to overlook the shores of Lake Michigan. There is a post-race Pumpkin Fest with games, crafts, food and more scheduled to take place at Lake Bluff Middle School adjacent to the start and finish line. (5K starts at 8 a.m. with tickets $33, Mile Run $20 with shirt, $10 without, free for kids.)

The Spooktacular at Elawa Farm will include a costume contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, a fortune teller and other games and activities. Attendees will be shuttled in and out of the farm from the St. James Lutheran Church parking lot at 1380 N. Waukegan, with shuttles running throughout the event. Registration is required. (10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Elawa Farm, 1401 Middlefork Dr., $10 for adults, $20 for kids 12 and under.)

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Trick-or-Treating in Lake Forest runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Young trick-or-treaters should use sidewalks and be accompanied by a parent, caregiver or older sibling. If there is no sidewalk, they were asked to use the left side of the road facing the flow of traffic. Residents were also asked to turn on outdoor lights so children know it is OK to visit your home.

Trick or Treat at the Library will run all day and will offer Halloween candy or a $5 voucher to pay library fines to anyone who asks "trick-or-treat" of staff at the Lake Bluff Public Library. Costumes optional but encouraged. No registration required. (10 a.m. - 9 p.m., 123 E. Scranton Ave., free, no registration required.)

More North Shore Halloween Events:

• Winnetka & Glencoe Halloween Events, including Night of 1,000 Jack O'Lanterns
• Glenview Halloween Events, including a Family Halloween at Wagner Farm
• Skokie Halloween Events, including the Scream Scene
• Highland Park & Highwood Halloween Events, including the X-Fearience
• Deerfield & Bannockburn Halloween Events, including the Halloween Hoopla
• Northbrook Halloween Events, including the Halloween Spooktacular
• Wilmette & Kenilworth Halloween Events, including the Halloween Happening
• Evanston Halloween Events, including the Zombie Scramble
• Niles & Morton Grove Halloween Events, including the House of Torment

_{Top photo via Patch file}