Halloween magic: The Hand & The Eye puts on event on centennial of Harry Houdini’s death

Chicago’s The Hand & The Eye will mark the fall season with a series of magic events at the historic McCormick Mansion, ending with its first Halloween celebration, “The Midway of Wonders." The Saturday, Oct. 31 event will take place 100 years after the death of Harry Houdini, according to the press release.

The programming gives visitors several ways to experience the mansion, from a casual evening happy hour to a full-night Halloween event. The venue is located at 100 E. Ontario St. and operates by reservation. The mansion has been transformed into a destination for live magic and illusion.

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Fall programming opens the season

Fall Into Magic will run every Friday and Saturday during the season. The happy hour series is designed as a shorter introduction to Chicago magic, allowing guests to sample the atmosphere of The Hand & The Eye without booking its full evening experience.

On Monday, Oct. 26, guests ages 5 and older can attend a family-friendly Halloween brunch. The event will be one of the few opportunities for children to enter a venue otherwise reserved for guests 21 and older. Admission is $95, with brunch selections and beverages available for separate purchase. Cocktail attire is requested.

The Grand Exhibition will be staged Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Monarch Theater. Doors open at 8 p.m., with the one-hour performance beginning at 8:30 p.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $135 and include a welcome fall spritz. Guests must be 21 or older and are asked to dress to impress.

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The Midway of Wonders takes over the mansion

On Oct. 31, The Midway of Wonders will turn the mansion into a one-night Halloween attraction inspired by world fairs, traveling carnivals and Chicago’s history of spectacle. Performances, music, and curiosities will be spread throughout the building, allowing guests to move at their own pace.

Fair Admission costs $325 and includes mansion access except for the rooftop, food, two cocktails, a punch ticket for attractions and shows, the Grand Exhibition, and other activations. The $400 Patron of the Fair package adds early entry, four drink tickets, priority seating, and a commemorative keepsake.

Reservations are required. The venue’s booking information lists The Midway of Wonders as a 21-and-older experience, with food and drink tickets included.