Seasonal & Holidays
2018 Lake Forest, Lake Bluff Halloween Events Guide
Find trick-or-treating hours and Halloween events in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
LAKE FOREST, IL — The arrival of fall means there are plenty of spooky activities planned around town ahead of Halloween 2018, which falls on a Wednesday. Find more information below about what's on offer in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff this year.
Friday, Oct. 19
Trunk or Treat features a trunk decoration contest, a costume contest and more. Trunks can register at 5 p.m. Oct. 19. A family movie night at the park follows at 7 p.m. (Trunk setup 5:30 p.m., event 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Blair Park, 355 W Washington Ave.)
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Saturday, Oct. 20
Rags to Witches returns to benefit the Ragdale in Schools program. Events include live performances, ghost storytelling, a "bewitching scavenger hunt" and more. After dark, there will be special performances, live music, seasonal tastings and a cash bar. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 21. (Ragdale, 1260 N. Green Bay Road, Before Dark show: all ages 3 - 6 p.m., tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and $60 per household, max 4, when bought in advance, tickets at the door are $25 for adults and $20 for kids. After Dark program for teens and adults: 6 - 8 p.m. Tickets can be upgraded to the After Dark program for $25, After Dark-only tickets $40.)
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The Haunted Trail Walk is new for 2018 and includes a self-guided walk through the "haunted forest" from Northcroft Park to Stirling Hall. Attendees are encourages to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. There will be a bonfire with cider and s'mores after the adventure, with shuttle service provided back to the park until 9 p.m. The event is aimed for those aged 12 and up. (7 - 9 p.m., 1365 S. Ridge Rd., free, with registration encouraged. More info at 847-810-3940.)
Thursday, Oct. 25
Halloween Fun at Market Square is a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating around Market Square and a free bag, while supplies last. There'll also be a costume contest, stilt walker, face painting, a DJ and a Halloween photo booth. (4 - 6 p.m., free, no registration required.)
Friday, Oct. 26
Halloween Tricks & Treats at the Rec Center will include a haunted hayride, a creepy science lab, a haunted zoo from the Wildlife Discovery Center, treats and more. The event is aimed at kids in preschool through grade three and parents. (5 - 7:30 p.m., Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road, free)
Saturday, Oct. 27
Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, which benefits Lake Bluff School District 65, travels down the tree-lined streets of east Lake Bluff down to overlook the shores of Lake Michigan. There is a post-race Pumpkin Fest with games, crafts, food and more scheduled to take place at Lake Bluff Middle School adjacent to the start and finish line. (5K starts at 8 a.m., mile run at 9:15 a.m. Tickets $37 with shirt, $23 without)
Sunday, Oct. 28
The Spooktacular at Elawa Farm returns for its forth year with live music, a costume contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, a fortune teller and more. Attendees will be shuttled in and out of the farm from the St. James Lutheran Church parking lot at 1380 N. Waukegan, with shuttles running throughout the event. Registration is required. (10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Elawa Farm, 1401 Middlefork Dr., $10 for adults, $20 for kids 12 and under.)
Tuesday, Oct. 30
Halloween Open House at the library is a "not-so-spooky" event with stories, crafts, and treats. Attendees are encourages to arrive in costume. (4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Lake Bluff Public Library, 123 E. Scranton Ave,. free)
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Trick-or-Treating in Lake Forest runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Young trick-or-treaters should use sidewalks and be accompanied by a parent, caregiver or older sibling. If there is no sidewalk, they were asked to use the left side of the road facing the flow of traffic. Residents were also asked to turn on outdoor lights so children know it is OK to visit your home.
Trick or Treat at the Library will run all day and will offer Halloween candy or a $5 voucher to pay library fines to anyone who asks "trick-or-treat" of staff at the Lake Bluff Public Library. Costumes optional but encouraged. No registration required. (10 a.m. - 9 p.m., 123 E. Scranton Ave., free)
» To add another Halloween event to our list, submit listings to LakeForest@Patch.com
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Safety tips to prevent Halloween from being truly scary this year:
- Do not eat any treats until they are examined by an adult.
- Stick to the village's designated trick-or-treat time and pick subdivisions and areas with many homes.
- Plan a safe route so you know where your children are at all times. Set a time for their return home. If your child goes out with just friends, make sure he or she has a cell phone.
- Stay with a group if trick-or-treating without an adult. Let parents know who you are with and where you are going.
- Stay in well-lighted, populated areas and do not wander off alone.
- Never enter a stranger's home, back or side yard or get into a stranger's car. Call 911 or go to a neighbor's house for help if in trouble or a stranger bothers you.
- Carry a flashlight, glow stick or wear reflective tape to make costumes more visible to cars.
- Make sure costumes are flame retardant or have been treated with fire retardant spray. Avoid masks that limit vision. Use make-up instead.
- Consider reviewing the locations of registered offenders in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff forbidden from handing out candy.
More from Patch:
- Illinois Haunted House Guide 2018
- Illinois' Haunted Best Place To Visit
- Fall Fests Worth Checking Out In Chicago Area
- Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2018
- Local Haunts: 5 Haunted Spots In Illinois
- Apple Orchards, Corn Mazes Open For Fall Season
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