Some fear factories for your families
All Hallows Eve:
A cast of sinister characters will spring to life from the pages of 19th century gothic horror novels and from the gory headlines of long-ago newspaper articles. Watch Dr. Frankenstein attempt to subdue the monster, beware of the notorious Jack the Ripper and look out for the galloping Headless Horseman as you wander the lantern-lit grounds. Hours are from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. All 13 acres of Naper Settlement are the backdrop of this event, which includes horse-drawn rides with scary stories, a bonfire and a gypsy village, where fortune tellers await. PG-rated, appropriate for children and adults. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4.50 youth ages 4 to 17. Call 630-305-5555. Visit www.napersettlement.museum. Volunteers are needed. Shifts are available from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. Call 305-5256 or e-mail volunteer@naperville.il.us.
Family Halloween party:
Hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct 29 at Sky Yoga Studio 103 W. Jefferson Ave., #2, Naperville. Treats, games, crafts and prizes for children in costumes. A frightfully fun family event not to miss. Admission free.
Halloween concert:
A concert with some of Chicago's most chilling performers starts at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. Performers include: Andrew Calhoun; Cooper, Nelson & Early; The Sass Trio! (Sandy Andina, Kate Early, Susan Urban). Admission $10. Costumes are encouraged. Call 630-969-9720 or 773-271-7127.
Halloween family show:
"The Mystery of Irma Vep" is a spoof of Gothic melodramas, and the perfect family-friendly show to run this holiday season. Two actors take on the role of a variety of characters one might see in a typical creepy comedy. The show runs through Nov. 4 at the First Street Playhouse, 160 S. Water St., Batavia. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. Those who come to the theater in costume on Oct. 27, 28 and 29 will receive $5 off. Best costume will receive two complimentary tickets to the theater's Christmas season production. Visit www.firststreetplayhouse.com, or call 630-406-6367.
Halloween Hiawatha Ghost Story train:
Trains will depart at 5 and 7 p.m. Oct. 29 from the Fox River Trolley Museum's Castlemuir depot, at 361 S. LaFox St., village of South Elgin. The reserved-seating, after-hours Ghost Story Trains entertain children, their daddies, mummies and even grandmummies. A spooky ride on a "haunted" trolley along the Fox River to a campfire along the shore, hot chocolate and s'mores, a ghost tale based on the area's history and a hike to the grave sites of two soldiers who died during the Blackhawk Wars. Reserve your space by visiting the museum's web site at www.foxtrolley.org/events.htm to download a reservation form or by writing the museum special events coordinator at P.O. Box 315, South Elgin, Ill., 60177. Fares for adults and seniors $6.50, children 1 to 11 $5.50. Call 847-697-4676.
Halloween night walks
: Hour-long walks are between 6 and 9 p.m. Oct. 27, 28 and 29 at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Tickets are $6; maximum of 8 tickets per person. Call 630-850-8110.
Halloween puppet show: Tom Volpe and his dancing marionettes will visit the Graue Mill Museum to celebrate Halloween with a spooky musical review enjoyed by children of all ages at 1 and 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at York and Spring roads, Oak Brook. Advance reservations are not required. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1.50 for children. Call 630-655-2090 or 630-920-9720.
Haunted Crossing mini-golf:
For the entire month of October, the course at Coyote Crossing Mini Golf, 27W650 North Ave., West Chicago, is transformed into a ghoulishly good time. Come and putt around the pumpkins for some Halloween fun. Hours are from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday; and 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31. Admission $7 adults (18+), $5 kids; and ages 2 and under free. Call 630-293-8374 or visit www.csparks.org.
Haunted Dungeon:
Prepare to slide, walk and crawl through two stories of terror at Lisle Park District's Haunted Dungeon from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27, 28, 30 and 31, at 1820 Short St., Lisle. Admission $6. Parking is located behind the Lisle Senior High School. Follow the park path located west of the high school to the parks garage. For all ages; parental discretion is advised. Some material may not be suitable for small children. Visit www.lisleparkdistrict.org/haunted.htm.
Haunted Plainfield:
The haunt will be visible from Oct. 23 until Halloween night at 14431 General Drive, Plainfield. Live haunting with ghosts, spooks, specters and ghouls will start at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Admission free. Visit www.HauntedPlainfield.com. E-mail headghoul@hauntedplainfield.com.
The Haunted Trolley:
Hours are from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29 at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St., South Elgin. A spooky ride on a "haunted" trolley along the Fox River; children in costume get a treat. Fares for adults $3.50, seniors and children 3 to 11 $2, and under 3 ride free. Call 847-697-4676.
Johansen Farms petting zoo: Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through daily Oct. 31 at 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Weekend attractions include: pony rides (October only), train rides at Pumpkin Junction, hayrides, two story airslides, jump in the giant castle, toddlers jumping jail, toddlers slide, toddler jumpin playroom and Noah's Ark Challenge (air obstacle course). All of the weekend attractions are free and unlimited with paid zoo admission. Admission is $7 for weekdays and $8 for weekends. Weather permitting. Subject to close without notice. Call 630-759-8711. Visit www.johansenfarms.com.
Joliet Jaycees haunted house:
Hours are from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 27, 28; and from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26, 29, 30 and 31, at the American Legion Harwood Post #5, 705 S. Larkin Ave., Joliet. Admission is $5. Call 815-773-9551. E-mail jolietjaycees@yahoo.com. Visit www.jolietjaycees.org.
Lombard Jaycees haunted house:
Hours are from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursdays; 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 7 to 11:30 p.m. Halloween, Oct. 31 at 1000 N. Rohlwing Road (Old Menards), Lombard. Kid's matinees will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 28. Admission $10 adults, $5 children. Visit www.haunted-house.com. E-mail haunted-house@bigfoot.com. Call 630-932-4812.
Muirhead Cemetery display:
Visit a large fenced graveyard, spider tunnel, spooky porch, flying ghost, fortune teller, witches cauldron and much more. Full night displays until 10 p.m. Oct. 27 to 31 at 703 Muirhead, Naperville. Appropriate for all ages. Admission free. Visit www.halloween.thehajers.com. E-mail jhajer@hotmail.com.
Pirate Adventure:
Halloween Party with activities for children ages 3 to 11 to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Our Saviour's Celebration Community Life Center, 919 S. Washington St., Naperville. Donation of $10 per person, $40 per family includes activities and food. Call 630-355-2522.
Sci-Tech Halloween party:
Are your ghouls and goblins looking for a safe, dry place to trick or treat? SciTech Hands on Museum is hosting a Spooktacular Halloween party for children ages 10 and under from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at 18 W. Benton St., downtown Aurora. Trick-or-treaters will collect candy donated by local businesses, participate in a make-and-take activities, view "Dinosaurios Argentinos - Giants of Patagonia" and participate in live science demonstrations on the main floor. Topics covered include bats, spiders, skeletons and chemistry. A costume contest will take place at 6 p.m. The party is free with admission to the museum. Admission is $10 for adults and children 3 and older, $8 for seniors, $5 for members and children 2 and under and SciTech members are free. Parking is available on the street and in the Stolp Avenue parking garage, one block north of the museum. Visit www.scitech.mus.il.us. Call 630-859-3434.
Spooky tales:
Storytellers from the St. Charles Public Library will perform classic scary stories by firelight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve, St. Charles. Children must be in third grade or older to attend this family event. Admission free. Registration is required. Call 847-741-8350, Ext. 10.
Thanatophobialand:
A residential yard display will take place from dusk to 9 p.m. weekdays; from dusk to 10 p.m. Fridays; and from dusk to 11 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31 at 305 Macintyre, Lockport. Appropriate for all ages. Visit www.thanatophobialand.com. E-mail rdragonlady719@aol.com. Admission free (donations gratefully accepted).
Wheaton Jaycees haunted house:
Hours are from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Oct. 27, 28; and from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26, 29, 30 and 31, at the DuPage County fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Admission $8 (insanitarium), $3 (Manor) or $10 (for both). On Oct. 26, students with an ID will receive a $2 discount. Visit www.wheatonjaycees.org. Call 630-668-7074.
