Get into the Halloween spirit for Chicago 2025 with the best festivals & zoo fun

Chicago is ready to celebrate Halloween with exciting events across the city. These October fests in Chicago offer something special for everyone this spooky season.

Color Factory Haunted Hues: Now through November 3

The Willis Tower hosts this colorful Halloween experience now through Monday, November 3 at Color Factory Chicago. Families can enjoy bright photo opportunities, seasonal treats, and interactive rooms designed for all ages. Sources from Color Factory indicate the experience includes a ghostly gradient room, ball pit activities, and a new Hunted Hues Scavenger Hunt where visitors can win prizes.

Boo! at the Zoo:  October 4 – 31

Brookfield Zoo Chicago brings back its popular family Halloween event with free activities and decorations throughout the zoo. The celebration runs on weekends with special treats like free inflatables for kids aged 3-10 and costume parades at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Families can enjoy trick-or-treating at different locations, pumpkin decorating, and meet a magician on weekends. Information from Brookfield Zoo Chicago shows the event runs from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, with admission free for zoo members.

Haunted History Tours: October 14

Lincoln Park Zoo has Haunted History Tours every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout October at 7 p.m., with an additional 8:30 p.m. tour starting Tuesday, October 14. These 75-minute tours cost $35 and are designed for guests 16 and older. Tour information from Lincoln Park Zoo shows that expert guide Adam Selzer leads visitors through haunted locations around the zoo, sharing mysterious Chicago stories and ghost tales.

Boo! Brunch: October 19

The zoo's special Halloween brunch takes place in the Pavilions with live DJ music and spooky decorations. Kids get free face painting and pumpkins to decorate while families enjoy Halloween-themed food and drinks.

Details from Brookfield Zoo Chicago reveal that zoo members receive discounts using the code BOO-NUSMEMBERSHIP25, and the ticket includes regular zoo admission for early exploration.

Spooky Zoo: October 18

Lincoln Park Zoo hosts their free family event on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all ages. The Auxiliary Board organizes this celebration that welcomes over 15,000 Chicago families each year. Lincoln Park Zoo sources indicate this long-running tradition raises money for animal care, conservation science, and educational programs while providing accessible Halloween fun. 

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6. Adults Night Out Howl-o-ween: October 24

Lincoln Park Zoo's Adults Night Out Howl-o-ween celebration happens on Friday, October 24 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. for guests 21 and older. Tickets cost $20 and help support the zoo's free admission policy year-round. According to Lincoln Park Zoo details, the event includes costume contests and special activities, though full-face covering costumes are not allowed for safety reasons.

Zoo After Dark: BOOs & Brews: October 25

This adults-only Halloween party happens on Saturday, October 25, for guests 21 and older at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. This October fest in Chicago features a costume contest with prizes, dancing with DJ Nurotic, and pumpkin decorating activities. 

According to the zoo's information, visitors can enjoy specialty drinks and meet animal ambassadors after regular zoo hours, creating a unique nighttime experience.

Halloween-Inspired Walking Tour: Throughout October

Brookfield Zoo Chicago launches a new guided walking tour throughout October, exploring spooky stories and mysterious creatures. 

This is one of the best Halloween Chicago fests 2025, which features a one-hour tour costing $69 for regular admission and $64 for members, limited to 15 people per group. Information from Brookfield Zoo Chicago explains that participants must be 7 years or older, and the tour covers the zoo's oldest buildings in the southwest area, complete with headsets for clear communication.