Blue Skies Ahead: Oct. 16

Halloween is fast approaching, and the end of October means fall festivities and spooky activities are in full swing. Try not to get spooked by this week’s lineup of events. 

If you are in the mood for a scare, you can visit the Nightmare on Clark Street haunted house, or Arts in the Dark for a Halloween themed parade. Alternatively, savor the best of the fall season before winter arrives by taking a look at the Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest, which offers family friendly activities. 

Open House Chicago: Oct. 19-20 

Open House Chicago is an annual citywide event designed to showcase historically, culturally and architecturally significant sites and buildings across the city. Sites include museums, schools and churches.

These sites are open to the public over the course of the event, and some host events for visitors to participate in highlighting local businesses and artists. The event is free to attend and doesn’t require reservations. For more information, visit the Chicago Architecture Center’s website. 

Arts in the Dark: Oct. 19

Designed as a Halloween themed parade, the 10th iteration of this annual event will present an evening featuring artists from around Chicago. 

Filled with floats, puppets and a variety of performances, the parade will make its way down State Street beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m. Oct. 19. It will go from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.

Admission to the event is free and no reservation is needed. For more information, visit the  Arts in the Dark website. 

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest: Now through Oct. 27

The Lincoln Park Zoo invites Chicagoans to visit their annual Fall fest, featuring fall themed activities and treats like pumpkin picking, fair rides and apple cider.

Throughout the run of the event, performers will be brought out for special events such as live pumpkin carving and juggling performances. Even the animals will be joining in on the fun with fall themed animal enrichment activities and educational chats. 

Admission into the zoo and the event are both free and no registration is required. For more information, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website. 

Nightmare on Clark Street: Now through Nov. 3 

This annual haunted house has returned this year with a multi-level venue for even more enjoyment by patrons. It features themed cocktails and offers tickets starting at $15 per person, available for purchase on the Nightmare on Clark Street website. You must be 18 or older to attend.

Green City Market: Now through Nov. 23
Despite the departure of the warm weather for the year, the Green City Market in Lincoln Park is continuing until Nov. 23. If you are searching for fresh fall produce from local vendors, visit the market, which is open every Wednesday and Saturday at 7 a.m. between North Clark Street and North Stockton Drive. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Green City Market website.

Jacks Pumpkin Popup: Now through Nov. 3

Enjoy ax throwing, carnival games, pumpkin-filled photo ops and Chicago’s largest corn maze in this Halloween staple any day from now until Nov. 3. The annual pop-up festival runs Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.. 
Tickets, available on the Jack’s Pumpkin Popup website, are $31 and include entry and one run through the corn maze. Other tickets are offered, which may include drinks, ax throws, carnival games and one orange pumpkin under 11 pounds. Purchasers are given a time frame in which they are able to enter the event.