LINCOLN SQUARE — Halloween has grown into so much more than a one-night candy grab.
We rounded up a slew of activities for youngsters, adults and even pets.
Trick-or-Treating
• Watch out for ghouls and goblins in Lincoln Square on Saturday, where youngsters are invited to go trick-or-treating at neighborhood businesses, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shops along Lincoln, Lawrence, Montrose, Western and Damen avenues will have candy and other giveaways for youngsters (click here for participating businesses).
Saturday's highlights also include a pair of free performances by popular children's musician Laura Doherty, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Enjoy, 4723 N. Lincoln Ave.
• The Northcenter Chamber of Commerce is hosting trick-or-treating for the neighborhood's families, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Bring the kids to Town Square, 4100 N. Damen Ave., where a dozen businesses will be handing out treats and prizes, or trick-or-treaters can pick up goodies at nearly 30 shops on Lincoln, Damen and Irving Park (click here for participating businesses). Be sure to swing by Town Square at noon for a costume contest.
Haunted Houses
• Step right up, if you dare — St. Viator's Stairway to Insanity is back for another frightening year, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3644 N. Kedvale Ave., $10 admission. Organizers warn that the haunted house is not suitable for little kids.
• Choose your preferred level of haunting on the St. Benedict FrightWalk — totally terrifying or a low-scare, lights-on alternative. The regular FrightWalk hours are 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; the lights-on tours are 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is $8, lights-on tickets are $2. Repeat trips on the same night through the FrightWalk, 2215 W. Irving Park Road, are $2.
Eerie Entertainment
• Carbon Arc is devoting the next two outings of its weekly Trivia Tuesdays to Halloween themes: First up is a family-friendly evening devoted to spooky movies (all rated PG-13 or lower), 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. On Oct. 31, grown-ups can test their horror movie knowledge, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Costumes are encouraged both nights, with prizes up for grabs. Registration starts 30 minutes before each event; no cost to participate.
• Enjoy one last afternoon on the rooftop of Gene's Sausage Shop, which is hosting its annual pumpkin carving contest, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, 4750 N. Lincoln Ave. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of most creative and scariest, with separate competitions for adults and children. To enter, drop off your carved pumpkin during store hours Wednesday through Saturday. Pumpkins also will be accepted until 11 a.m. on Sunday.
• Leave it to the folks at the Cornservatory to take "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" — already a bizarre mash-up of the musical, screwball comedy and horror genres — and make it even weirder. Catch performances of "The Rocky Balboa Picture Show" Thursday through Saturday, and a special show on Halloween night, 8 p.m., 4210 N. Lincoln Ave. Click here for ticket information.
• The improv comedians at Laugh Out Loud will be handing out chuckles for Halloween with "Monsters on Ice," a "romp full of mysteries, tricks, treats, monsters and ghost stories." Shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 3851 N. Lincoln Ave. Click here for ticket information.
In the Parks
• Kilbourn Park's Halloween garden festival has something for everyone — a campfire with S'mores, storytelling, arts and crafts, harvest recipes and more. Swing by 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.; admission is a $5 donation.
• For a different spin on the holiday, check out Day of the Dead mask painting at Mayfair Park, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 4550 W. Sunnyside Ave. Click here to register.
• Youngsters are invited to a free community Halloween party at Welles Park, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on the holiday itself, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
Howl-O-Ween
• Ruff Haus is hosting its annual pet costume contest and parade, 11 a.m. Sunday in Giddings Plaza, 4731 N. Lincoln Ave. Prizes will be awarded for most frightening, most creative and best couple (human and pet or pair of pets). Entry fee is a $10 donation to benefit the One Tail at Time rescue organization. At noon, pets will parade to Ruff Haus for refreshments, photos and complimentary goodie bags.
• Party with your pup at 10 a.m. Saturday at Stay, a modern dog hotel, 4130 N. Rockwell St. The event includes food trucks, a costume contest, goodie bags and a parade to Horner Park, with stops along the way. Cost is $20 to benefit fundraising efforts for a dog friendly area at Horner Park.