Woodland Family Hikes: Fall Color
Oct. 13 or 14
Morton Arboretum
4100 Route 53, Lisle
(630) 968-0074
Enjoy the intricate beauty of colorful trees in the fall on an hour-long family-paced hike around the arboretum’s Meadow Lake. The program is recommended for families with children 4 and older. Time: 10:30 a.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Cost: $17. RR
Cantigny Fall Festival
Oct. 13-15
Cantigny Park
1S151 Winfield Road, Wheato
(630) 668-5161
The popular fall festival is expanded this year from one day to three. Enjoy the biergarten with food, eight beers on tap and live music by Howl2Go from 4 to 11 p.m. Oct. 13. On Saturday, fun for the family includes inflatables, a petty zoo, hayride, craft vendors and more from 10 am. to 4 p.m., with live music and the biergarten on tap from 4 to 11 p.m. Family fun and live entertainment will be available Oct. 15 as well from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $15 per car admission, $9 beer tokens.
Glass Pumpkin Patch
Oct. 13-15
Morton Arboretum
4100 Route 53, Lisle
(630) 968-0074
The Morton Arboretum’s 13th annual Glass Pumpkin Patch features demonstrations by artists as they turn bits of glass into stunning molten pumpkin masterpieces. Guests also can visit the Halloween tent to find enchanting and frightful works of art to decorate the home and garden. Glass pumpkins are available for sale from 1 p.m. Oct. 14 to 5 p.m. Oct. 16. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: free with timed admission of $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $11 for kids ages 2-17 and free for those 2 and younger.
Hinsdale Fall Family Fest
Oct. 14
Burlington Park
30 E. Chicago Ave.
(630) 789-7090
http://www.villageofhinsdale.org/pr
Dress in a favorite Halloween costume and enjoy inflatables, food trucks, entertainment and crafts at this annual event. Free pumpkins will be available to the first 500 participants. The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a costume contest at its booth from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with winners announced at 1:30 p.m. The Hinsdalean will take photographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids can trick-or-treat at selected businesses in the downtown business district from noon to 3 p.m. Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Halloween Cupcake Decorating
Oct. 15
Hinsdale Public Library
20 E. Maple St.
(630) 789-1986
http://www.hinsdalelibrary.info
Kids in kindergarten through second grade are invited to listen to a story about fall and decorate Halloween themed cupcakes with frosting, crushed cookies, gummy worms and more. Time: 2 to 3 p.m. RR
OAKtober Walk
Oct. 15
St. James Farm
2S541 Winfield Road, Warrenville
(630) 933-7248
Enjoy the fall colors and learn about oaks on a guided walk. Participants may bring crayons and paper to make their own leaf and bark rubbings. The program is for ages 5 and older; those under 18 must be with an adult. Time: 2 to 3 p.m. Cost: $5. RR
Fall Color Walk
Oct. 15 or 21
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
12545 W. 111th St., Lemont
(708) 257-2045
Families are invited to enjoy a leisurely nature walk to see the fall colors. Time: 1 p.m. RR
Mayslake by Moonlight Tour
Oct. 19, 21, 27, 28, 30
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 31st St., Oak Brook
(630) 206-9566
See Mayslake Hall in a new light. After the sun sets, enjoy a guided tour of this historic mansion by flashlight. Take in the architecture and history, and thrill to urban legends, tales of hauntings and stories of mischief. The program is for ages 12 and older; those under 18 must be with an adult. Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Cost: $15. RR
Pumpkin Night Hike
Oct. 20
Fullersburg Woods
3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook
(630) 933-7248
Use pumpkins and lanterns to light the way on a self-guided night hike. There will be a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt for kids to complete and a treat at the end. Hikes leave every 15 minutes. All ages are welcome; those under 18 must be with an adult. Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Cost: $10 per person 3 and older, free for 2 and younger. RR
Fall Foliage Walking Tour
Oct. 20 or 28
Morton Arboretum
4100 Route 53, Lisle
(630) 968-0074
Enjoy a seasonal stroll at the arboretum and take in the changing colors of the trees in this walk guided by an arboretum ecologist. Participants will view fall color and learn what seasonal changes trees go through each year. Time: 1 to 3 p.m. Cost: $32.
Cider and Ale Festival
Oct. 21
Morton Arboretum
4100 Route 53, Lisle
(630) 968-0074
Enjoy the fall season while savoring hard cider and beers from more than 30 local breweries and cideries. General admission includes a souvenir tasting glass and 20 3-ounce samples. Each VIP ticket provides early entry and includes a welcome drink, 20 3-ounce samples, a beer can-shaped commemorative pint glass and private restroom access. Time: noon to 3 p.m., 11 a.m. VIP entry.
Fall Color Walk
Oct. 21
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs
(708) 839-6897
Learn why trees drop their leaves and the cause of leaf color change during this walk. Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Boo! at the Zoo
Weekends through Oct. 22
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road
(708) 688-8400
http://www.czs.org/booatthezoo
Families can have a howling good time at this annual Halloween celebration. Don a favorite costume and take memorable snapshots at the many Halloween-themed photo frames and vignettes, including the Howl-O-Scene. Backdrops feature pumpkins, bales of hay, black cat cutouts and more. Afterwards, tackle the Craized Maize corn maze on the Zoo’s East Mall or take a spin on the Creepy Carousel. Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. activities, zoo open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $29.95, $20.95 for kids 3-11, $24.95 for seniors plus $17-$20 parking.
Gothic Ghost Stories
Oct. 25
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 31st St., Oak Brook
(630) 206-9566
Keep the spooks at bay with an evening of ghoulish grown-up tales told in the old manor house at Mayslake Hall. The program is for ages 18 and older. Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Boo Bash
Oct. 30
Hinsdale Public Library
20 E. Maple St.
(630) 789-1986
http://www.hinsdalelibrary.info
All ages are invited to come to the library in costume to enjoy trick-or-treating, spooktacular games and activity stations. Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Dia de los Muertos
Oct. 30-Nov. 2
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs
(708) 839-6897
Stop by the center to learn about Mesoamerican tradition and view the altar dedicated to extinct and endangered animals. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
