NEAR WEST SIDE — It may not feel like fall this weekend, but signs of Halloween are everywhere in the city's Near West Side neighborhoods.
From Dia De Los Muertos to family-friendly Halloween parties, here are our top picks of spooky things to do and see in the West Loop, Pilsen and University Village.
FRIDAY
Haunted House at Fosco Park — Appropriate for kids 6 and up, the Fosco Park haunted house promises to be a ghostly good time. Free. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Ave., University Village.
St. Procopius Dia De Los Muertos Celebration — Students at St. Procopius School will celebrate Day of the Dead with skits songs, poems and dances performed in the school's gym. Pilsen residents welcome. Free. 1:15 p.m. Friday, St. Procopius School, 1625 S. Allport St., Pilsen.
West Loop Families Halloween Parade and Party — Ald. Danny Solis leads the 7th annual kids costume parade through the park before families head to Madison Street for trick-or-treating at neighborhood businesses. Free. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St., West Loop.
Tots Halloween Party at Skinner Park — Geared toward kids ages 5 and under, this indoor Tot Halloween Party brings spooktacular fun to the neighborhood with games, bounce houses, music and treats. Free. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Whitney Young gym, 210 S. Loomis St., West Loop.
Scare You Very Much — AMFM Magazine, Thank You Very Much and stand up comedian Dave Helem host a B.Y.O.B. 90s-themed Halloween party and variety show. $10 online, $15 at the door. 7-11 p.m. Friday, Chicago Art Department, 1932 S. Halsted St., Pilsen.
Pandora's Box Halloween at Fulton Market Kitchen — Fulton Market Kitchen will host DJs, live models art and fashion installations for an epic Halloween bash. Tickets include one drink voucher. $40 online. 9 p.m. Friday, Fulton Market Kitchen, 311 N. Sangamon St., West Loop.
La Casa de Satanas 2016 — Nudity, violence, gore — you've been warned. Bad Blood, Lost Love is an immersive dark-art haunted house blurring the line between the supernatural and "deeply horrific reality." Due to the adult content of the performance, no one under the age of 18 will be admitted. $20 online. 9 p.m.-Midnight Friday, Sunday and Monday, 2058 W. 21st St., Pilsen.
SATURDAY
Pumpkin Patch at Dvorak Park — Pick your favorite gourd from a field of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes at Dvorak Park this weekend. Free. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St., Pilsen.
Carrera De Los Muertos/Race of the Dead — Cheer on 5,000 runners at this sold-out 5K race in University Village and Pilsen organized by the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO). Race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, south end of Addams/Medill Park, University Village.
Last West Loop Market of Season — Produced by Green City Market, the West Loop's last outdoor farmers market of the season brings fresh fall produce and artisan treats to the neighborhood. Free. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St., West Loop.
French Market Great Pumpkin Party — The Chicago French Market hosts their annual salute to Halloween with the Great Pumpkin Party Saturday. The day begins with pumpkin decorating for kids followed by a market-wide costume parade and costume contest judged by age group. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. To end the morning, the market features trick or treating for kids. Free. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, 131 N. Clinton St., West Loop.
Randolph Street Market — The indoor/outdoor urban antiques market returns to the neighborhood, featuring eight acres of unique vintage, antique and artisan finds. In celebration of Halloween, the market features taffy apples, apple cider and other fall treats and a treasure hunting for kids. $8 online, $10 at the gate, kids free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington St., West Loop.
Brew-Ja Beer Crawl — The team behind the Pilsen Cantina Crawl will take a costume crew on a trolley crawl to the neighborhood's best bars. Tickets benefit Pilsen Fest 2017 and include a craft brew at each stop. 21 and up. $30 tickets online. Crawl kicks off at Noon Saturday at Yvolina's Tamales, 814 W. 18th St., Pilsen.
Howl-O-Ween Pet Portraits — Does your dog have the best costume on the block? Capture your dog's good side with a Howl-O-Ween pet portrait Saturday afternoon. Cat, bunnies and other pets welcome, too. $25, reservation required. 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Paw Naturals, 932 W. Monroe St., West Loop.
Studio 564 at CH Distillery — Don your best 70's attire and boogie the night away as CH Distillery is transformed into Studio 564, inspired by New York's famed Studio 54 nightclub. 5 p.m.-Midnight, Saturday, CH Distillery, 564 W. Randolph St., West Loop.
Illumination Halloween Party — Benefiting The Clayco Foundation, this costume party for a good cause will be packed with immersive light art experiences, live performances, an open bar and a late-night dance party hosted by DJ Matt Roan. Cubs fans need not worry — the World Series will be playing at the gala via TVs and a large projector. 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday, Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market, Fulton Market.
Frightmare on Taylor Street — Vintage Lounge on Taylor promises a ghoulish good time with a costume contest, live DJ and drink specials. Optional $50 all-you-can drink package from 8 p.m.-Midnight. 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, Vintage Lounge, 1449 W. Taylor St., Little Italy.
SUNDAY
Chicago Day of the Dead in Pilsen — The National Museum of Mexican Art once again hosts the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the nation Sunday with free Pan de Muerto, live music, face painting and art activities. A soccer field outside the museum in Harrison Park will be full of ofrendas, which are altars paying homage to dead loved ones. Free. 3-8 p.m. Sunday, Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St., Pilsen.
Last Outdoor Pilsen Community Market of Season — Market vendors will feature Dia De Los Muertos treats, live music and face painting at Pilsen's last outdoor market of the season. Free. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, 1800 S. Halsted St., Pilsen.
Halloween Brunch at Carnivale — Carnivale will celebrate All Hollows Eve with a family-friendly costume brunch complete with monster mash DJ, skeleton face painting and treats for kids. Reservations suggested. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton St., West Loop.
Dia De Los Muertos Kids Festival — Chicago Latina Moms will host a kids festival with face painting, crafts, storytelling and more at La Catrina Cafe Sunday. $6 for first child, $2 each additional sibling. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, La Catrina Cafe, 1011 W. 18th St., Pilsen.
West Loop Howl-O-Ween Parade — West Loop Vet Care once again hosts its pet-friendly Halloween party at Mary Bartelme Park, with a pet costume contest, family photos, surprises and treats. Free. 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St., West Loop.
Casper/Hocus Pocus Double Feature — In the mood for a spooky family movie day? Catch Casper (PG) and Hocus Pocus (PG) at Thalia Hall Sunday afternoon with free pumpkin painting in the lobby. Costumes encouraged. $10. 3 p.m. Sunday, Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Pilsen.
Randolph Street Market — The indoor/outdoor urban antiques market returns to the neighborhood, featuring eight acres of unique vintage, antique and artisan finds. In celebration of Halloween, the market features taffy apples, apple cider and other fall treats and a treasure hunting for kids. $8 online, $10 at the gate, kids free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington St., West Loop.
Halloween/The Thing Double Feature — For a double dose of creeps, Thalia Hall will show horror classics Halloween and The Thing. Criterion presents Halloween with an exclusive extended introduction and retrospective with the filmmaker John Carpenter exploring the history of the film. Guests must be 17 and up. $10. 8 p.m. Sunday, Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Pilsen.
La Casa de Satanas 2016 — Nudity, violence, gore — you've been warned. Bad Blood, Lost Love is an immersive dark-art haunted house blurring the line between the supernatural and "deeply horrific reality." Due to the adult content of the performance, no one under the age of 18 will be admitted. $20 online. 9 p.m.-Midnight Friday, Sunday and Monday, 2058 W. 21st St., Pilsen.
NEXT WEEK
ElevArte Day of the Dead Processional — Pilsen arts group ElevArte celebrates Dia De Los Muertos with the 37th annual Muertos de la Risa processional Wednesday. Face painting and musical performances begin at 3 p.m. Monday at Dvorak Park. At 6 p.m., participants in Day of the Dead-inspired costumes can join in on the community processional through Pilsen. Free. Events start at 3 p.m., processional at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St., Pilsen.
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