There’s a chill in the air . . . and little ghosts and goblins everywhere are on the hunt for a good scare! These haunted trails, haunted hayrides, and haunted houses range from cute to scary, so be sure to pay attention to age recommendations.
If you have younger or spook-sensitive kiddos, be sure to look for events offering daytime or special scare-free times as well. Some lean more into the Halloween theme, while others are a bit more seasonally fall focused.
This article is sponsored by Wood Dale Park District who has a fun Scarewalk with family-friendly and regular hours.
Scarewalk in Wood Dale
Scarewalk
White Oaks Park
111 S. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL 60191
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Family-Friendly Hour: 5:00-6:00pm
Active Scare Hours: 6:30-8:30pm
Get ready for chills and thrills at Wood Dale Park District’s Scarewalk! This 1/3-mile haunted trail features spooky fun for all ages.
Family Friendly Hour kicks things off from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., offering a gentler version of the scare trail (recommended for ages 10 and under). Guests wishing to attend the Family Friendly Hour must be in line by 5:30 p.m. to ensure they can participate before the full-scare experience begins. For thrill-seekers, Active Scare Hours are 6:30–8:30 p.m. Guests must be in line by 8:00pm.
A new addition this year is the Scarecrow Showdown, where local scarecrows made by the community will be on display near the entrance. Guests can vote for their favorite scarecrow right from the Scarewalk line.
Click here to purchase pre-sale tickets for $6, or you can buy tickets for $8 at the event. For full event details, ticket purchases, or volunteer inquiries, visit wdparks.org or call 630-595-9333.
Haunted Trails and Other Spooky Events
Parental discretion is always recommended. If you’re unsure whether a particular event or venue listed below is age-appropriate for your kids, call ahead!
Paranormal Tours (Volo Museum)
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from September 6 to November 2, 2025 | times vary
Listen to stories of paranormal encounters throughout the museum. Purchase tour tickets for $3 in addition to your museum admission.
Sonny Acres Farm Haunted Hay Ride (West Chicago)
September 26 – October 26, 2025 | Friday and Saturday: 7:00pm – 10:00pm, Sunday: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
29W310 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185
Spooktacular fun awaits for all ages on the wagon ride.
Oswego Cemetery Walk
October 2, 2025 | 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Participants are guided through a cemetery visit with spirits from the past. Registration the day of the event is $10 and a flashlight and comfortable shoes are encouraged.
Tales and Tombstones (Lombard)
October 3 – 4, 2025 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Participants take a guided candlelit walk through the Lombard Cemetery. Light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required.
Ghost Stories in the Park…in the Dark (Naperville)
October 3 – 5, 2025 | times vary
Bundle up for scary stories at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or at the performance. All guests are $7.
Spooky Stories and a Hayride (Barrington)
October 3, 10, and 17, 2025 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Halloween stories, spooky hayride through Citizen’s Park and s’mores. Pre-registration is required.
Halloween Trick or Treat Trail (Oak Brook)
October 4, 2025 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Come in costumes for a spooky walk in the park. This 1/2 mile walk in the woods includes games and crafts before participants head to the trick or treat trail and a leisurely haunted wagon ride. Please note, you will need to register for a specific one-hour time slot.
Campfire Chills: Creatures of the Night (Bolingbrook)
October 4, 2025 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Enjoy s’mores, spooky stories, and more at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
Haunted Ghost Story Train (Fox River Trolley Museum, South Elgin)
October 11, 18, and 25, 2025 | 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Ride a family-friendly, spooky trolley to a haunted forest. All guests will need a $20 ticket.
Campfire in the Park Spooky Stories (La Grange Park)
October 15, 2025 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Spooky stories and s’mores provided by the La Grange Park Library.
FFF Haunted House (Bolingbrook)
October 17, 2025 | 5:40pm – 8:00pm
Enter the haunted house, if you dare.
Haunted Library (Glen Ellyn Public Library)
October 17, 2025 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Visit the library for both family-friendly and spooky fun.
House of Creeps (Wintrust Field, Schaumburg)
October 17 – 19 and October 24 – November 2, 2025 | times vary
Offered in conjunction with the Schaumburg Halloween Carnival, special kid-friendly hours are offered on select afternoons. Tickets can be purchased in advance for a discounted rate.
Escape The Mansion (Geneva)
October 18, 2025 | 1:00pm – 9:00pm
Put your skills to the test and try to escape the Stephen Persinger Recreation Center.
Haunted House (Riverside)
October 18, 2025 | 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Less scary production in earlier time slots; register for the appropriate one for your comfort level.
Haunted Forest (Westmont)
October 18, 2025 | 3:00pm – 9:30pm
A wagon ride through Diane Main Park will take patrons to the haunted woods. Kid-friendly version from 3:00pm – 6:30pm, with scarier performance from 7:00pm – 9:30pm.
Scary Stories in the Dark (Elmwood Park Public Library)
October 18, 2025 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Visit the library for an afternoon of spooky stories. Registration is required.
Haunted Trail (Itasca)
October 18, 2025 | 4:30 – 5:30pm Family Friendly Hour, 6:30pm – 9:30pm Scary Hours
Located at the Springbrook Nature Center. Age 11 and under must be supervised by an adult.
Scarewalk in Wood Dale
Scarewalk
White Oaks Park
111 S. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL 60191
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Family-Friendly Hour: 5:00-6:00pm
Active Scare Hours: 6:30-8:30pm
Get ready for chills and thrills at Wood Dale Park District’s Scarewalk! This 1/3-mile haunted trail features spooky fun for all ages.
Family Friendly Hour kicks things off from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., offering a gentler version of the scare trail (recommended for ages 10 and under). Guests wishing to attend the Family Friendly Hour must be in line by 5:30 p.m. to ensure they can participate before the full-scare experience begins. For thrill-seekers, Active Scare Hours are 6:30–8:30 p.m. Guests must be in line by 8:00pm.
A new addition this year is the Scarecrow Showdown, where local scarecrows made by the community will be on display near the entrance. Guests can vote for their favorite scarecrow right from the Scarewalk line.
Click here to purchase pre-sale tickets for $6, or you can buy tickets for $8 at the event. For full event details, ticket purchases, or volunteer inquiries, visit wdparks.org or call 630-595-9333.
Ackerman Haunted Trail (Glen Ellyn)
October 23 – 24, 2025 | 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Games, treats, and walk a spooky trail at this scary event. Trail is milder from 4pm – 6pm and geared towards older kids from 6pm – 9pm.
Main Street Cemetery Flashlight Tour
October 23, 2025 | 7:00 – 8:00pm
Learn about local ghost stories at the Main Street Cemetery in Downers Grove. Register in advance.
Spooky Trail (West Chicago)
October 23 – 25, 2025 | times vary
Haunted trail full of ghosts and ghouls in Reed-Keppler Park. Register ahead of time to avoid waiting in line.
A Haunting at the Community House (Hinsdale)
October 24, 2025 | 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Enjoy the Haunted House (recommended for ages 8 and up) and a Halloween Party for all ages, including games, crafts, and activities perfect for younger kids. Registration is required.
OA Haunted Hike (All Saints Cathedral Parish PNCC, Chicago)
October 24, 2025 | 6:00pm – 10:30pm
October 25, 2025 | 3:00pm – 10:30pm
Fright-free, regular scares, and extra scary times are available at this haunted house hosted by the Takhone Lodge #7.
Haunted Forest Walk (Woodridge)
October 24 – 25, 2025 | times vary
Features scary characters around every dark corner — the Saturday matinee will be more suitable for kids 9 and under. Purchase your tickets inside the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center the day of the event and enjoy a hayride to Hawthorne Hill Woods.
Lantern-Lit Haunted Hike (St. James Farm, Warrenville)
October 24 and 25, 2025 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Register in advance for tickets to this spooky 2-mile walk, which ends around a campfire.
The Final Cut Haunted House (Lincoln Center, Downers Grove)
October 24 and 25, 2025 | 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Purchase tickets in advance, or day-of tickets as space allows. $10 per guest.
Night Terrors Haunted House (Hodgkins)
October 24, 25, and 31, 2025 | 6:00pm – 10:00pm
The lights are on for the first hour, but off for the remainder of the evening.
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt (Haunted Version) (Lombard)
October 24, 2025 | 8:15pm – 9:00pm
Explore Knolls Community Park at this creepy event.
Family Wicked Wagon Ride (Roselle)
October 25, 2025 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Guests must register in advance for this spooky ride after the Roselle Park District’s Zombie Run.
Worth Park District Haunted Trail (Worth)
October 25, 2025 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Spooky creatures and other haunts along the Worth Boat Launch Trail.
River Trail Nightlife: The Return of Scary Stories (Northbrook)
October 25, 2025 | 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Register in advance for this spooky night at River Trail Nature Center.
Haunted Houses
Please note that some of these haunted houses do not allow children or may be very scary, while others host family-friendly times. Check out the websites, call if you have questions, and use your parental discretion.
Canyon Trail Cemetery Halloween Display
Check Facebook for dates/times/updates to this event.
371 Canyon Trail
Carol Stream, IL 60188
info@canyontrailcemetery.com
Elaborate and extensive residential Halloween display that goes all out with moving parts and special effects, including some elements that pop out.
Bengston’s Haunted Barn
September 5 – October 31, 2025
13341 W 151st Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491
(708) 301-3276
Kids under age 12 must be with an adult.
Goebbert’s Farm Haunted House
September 6 – October 31, 2025 | 9am – 6pm
40 W. Higgins Road
South Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 428-6727
10-room haunted house designed to scare school-aged children. Entry included with farm admission.
Disturbia Haunted House
Opens September 13, 2025
1213 Butterfield Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 896-2466
Not recommended for children ages 12 and under.
13th Floor Haunted House
Opens September 13, 2025
5050 River Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
(708) 571-3326
info@13thFloorChicago.com
Not recommended for children ages 12 and under.
Six Flags Boo Fest and Fright Fest
Select days between September 13 – November 2, 2025
Six Flags Great America
1 Great America Parkway
Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 249-1776
Six Flags recommends not bringing children after 6pm — their scariest frights are at night. During the day, a kid-focused Boo Fest brings the Halloween theme without the scares.
Basement of the Dead
Opens September 19, 2025
42 West New York Street
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 896-2466
Sonny Acres Farm Haunted Barn
September 26 – October 26, 2025 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings
29W310 North Avenue
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 231-3859
Midnight Terror Haunted House
Opens September 26, 2025
5520 West 111th Street
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 639-3279
Hellsgate Haunted House
Opens September 26, 2025
301 W. 2nd Street
Lockport IL 60441
(605) 301-4283
Dungeon of Doom
Opens October 3, 2025
600 29th Street
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 262-3666
No one under the age of 12 can enter this haunted house. The experience features gore, suggestive themes, and intense situations that are designed for an adult audience.
House of Creeps
Wintrust Field
1999 S Springinsguth Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60193
This haunted experience started as a home display and is now part of the Schaumburg Halloween Carnival at the Boomers stadium.
Universal Horror Unleashed is expected to open in 2027 and will be a 114,000 square foot attraction open all year round. From what we’ve seen, it’s going to be too intense for young children, but we’ll add more details as they become available.
Haunted Boat Rides
Chicago Boat Company offers a 120 Minute Public Guided Ghost Tour on a party barge. It departs from the Chicago Riverwalk at between the LaSalle Street and Wells Street bridges.
City Cruises’ Seadog Haunted Halloween Boat Tour is 45 minutes and boards on the River Esplanade just outside NBC Tower.
There are so many fun events happening this fall to keep your entire family happy. Check out our excellent fall fun list for all the best ones!
