Fall in Chicago offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to celebrate Halloween, admire neighborhood architecture, enjoy fall colors, pick apples, or learn about urban legends. Check out these Chicago Fall activities.
Check out the Chicago fall colors
Chicago is beautiful all year round, but it shines in the autumn. There are plenty of places to enjoy the Fall foliage, whether you are strolling along the lakefront or simply meandering through a charming neighborhood. Do some serious leaf peeping at these top places to see fall colors in and around Chicago:
- Lincoln Park, particularly the area around North Pond and South Pond
- Jackson Park and the gorgeous Garden of the Phoenix
- Morton Arboretum is just a short train ride away
Celebrate Halloween
Chicago celebrates Halloween with its unique style, artistic evening spectacles, glowing pumpkin displays, thrilling parades, spooky tours of haunted places, Day of the Dead celebrations, and beyond. Check out the events we’re most excited about this year:
- Arts in the Dark on State Street and Upside Down Arts in the Dark in Washington Park
- Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden
- Northalsted Halloween Parade in Northalsted (aka Boystown)
- Día de los Muertos: Love Never Dies Ball at the National Museum of Mexican Art
- Boo! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo
See an unforgettable Chicago Museum exhibit
Fall is typically a busy season for art lovers in Chicago. This year, there are plenty of must-see exhibits at museums all around the city, from major exhibitions to under-the-radar finds.
Attend a drive-in movie or a film festival
Fall in Chicago is an excellent time for movie lovers. In October, the city hosts the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. And drive-in movies are back in a big way. These nostalgic outdoor theatres feature everything from kid-friendly flicks to spine-tingling horror films. Check out where to see film screenings and drive-in movies in Chicago this fall.
- Chicago International Film Festival features film screenings from around the world.
- Music Box of Horrors is a cult favorite with 24 hours of horror movie madness.
- Asian Pop-Up Cinema will host screenings and drive-in events.
- ChiTown Movies in Pilsen screens family favorites, classic slasher flicks, and more.
Take a Pumpkin Patch Tour
Pumpkin patches near Chicago offer everything you need to decorate jack-o-lanterns or make desserts. Head out of town for a full day of fall activities at these pumpkin patches:
- Pumpkin Patch and Walk at Lincoln Park Zoo
- Jack’s Pumpkin Patch Pop-up in Chicago
- Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch in Pingree Grove
- Sonny Acres Farm in West Chicago
- Bengston’s Pumpkin Fest in Homer Glen
- Stade’s Farm & Market in McHenry
Enjoy Apple Picking
Nothing says fall like walking through an apple orchard. Chicago has few apple farms within city limits, but these farms are close to the city, so stock up on Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, and more at these apple-picking spots:
- All Seasons Apple Orchard in Woodstock
- Kuiper’s Family Farm in Maple Park
- Heinz Orchard in Libertyville
- Jonomac Orchard in Malta
For more Chicago Fall activities, check out our other blogs at Blog.
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