LAKEVIEW — The hardest part about Halloween in Lakeview might be figuring out which of the myriad events you'll be able to make it to. Here are just some of your options over the next week:
Family fun
• The Park at Wrigley will host Pumpkin Party at the Park from 4-7 p.m. Thursday. The Dreamtree Shakers, provided by the Old Town School of Folk Music, will perform a Halloween-inspired musical sing-along, and Storytown Improv will take children on a haunted and interactive adventure. Children can also explore the pumpkin patch, take part in haunted games and enjoy balloon artists. Snacks will be provided, and costumes are encouraged.
• On Friday, the YMCA will transform into a haunted house from 5-7 p.m. There will be a bounce house, face painting, carnival games, a costume contest and more. The event is free and open to both members and non-members.
• Nettelhorst School will host its Halloween Hoopla event 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Area families can trick-or-treat at local businesses and enjoy hayrides, arts and crafts, face painters, balloonists, games, photos and more. The event is free, but donations are accepted to offset the cost of the event.
• Stop by Sheil Park from 4-5 p.m. Monday for the Sheil Park Halloween Party, featuring games, treats and more. The event is free and suitable for all ages.
• Trick-or-Treat on Southport is back for its seventh year. From 4-8 p.m. Monday from Roscoe to Grace, kids can trick-or-treat at local businesses and participate in family-friendly activities along the way.
• The Music Box Theatre hosts Hex-a-Long Hocus Pocus at 7 p.m. Monday. Hosted by Dick O'Day, this interactive, family-friendly event invites attendees to shout, sing, cheer and scream along with Halloween classic "Hocus Pocus" about three 17th-century Salem witches who rise from the dead to wreak havoc on the early '90s. Prop bags and participation guides will be provided. Tickets are $13 or $10 for kids and can be bought online in advance.
Costume contests
• The Ingmar James Salon will again host its Halloween party from 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Get dressed up and participate in costume contests, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, dance to spooky music, drink cocktails and more.
• Hit up the Wrigleyville Halloween Crawl beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20 but will increase to $30 as more sell, and each ticket includes a dinner buffet, gift cards to use on the crawl, costume contests, giveaways and more. More information can be found online.
• Vaughan's Pub will host a costume party on Saturday with cash prizes for winners and a $15 gift certificate to the bar for every participant.
• The 21st annual Northalsted Halloween Parade invites you to march in costume for free and maybe even win a prize in four costume categories. Register online in advance or beginning at 5 p.m. on Halloween. The parade will start at 7:30 p.m. at Halsted and Belmont and will head north to Cornelia. Enjoy food and drink specials around Northalsted afterward.
• GMan Tavern will transform into Misplaced Lagoon for one night only on Halloween, taking on a tiki theme featuring a special cocktail menu, food from DMen Tap's DönerMen food truck, a costume contest featuring prizes from Metro, smartbar and Shuga Records Chicago and more. There will be no cover.
• Buy something at WineHouse in your Halloween costume and you'll be entered into its costume contest. Contestants will have their picture taken, which will then be added to the contest photo album on Facebook. The picture with the most likes by noon Nov. 3 will win a three-month Estate-level WineClub membership ($90 value).
Get cultural
• The Public House Theatre will present two plays this week in the Halloween spirit. First, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, see "Mr. Lee's Night of Horror," a sketch show meant to horrify and delight. Tickets are $15. Then, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, see "Lady Faust," a play that tells of a bewitching struggle between good and evil. Tickets are $15.
• The Music Box will host Halloween screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Night of the Living Dead," "The Fly," "Evil Dead II" and more. View the theater's full schedule online.
• Chase Park's Camp Scare Away Haunted House will be open 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7-9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 and can be bought online. A scary movie in the park will follow haunted house hours and is included in haunted house admission.
Bar and restaurant scene
• Take part in a free pumpkin carving contest from 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday at Vaughan's Pub. Pumpkins and carving tools will be provided while supplies last, and the first-place winner will receive a $100 prize.
• Visit Venicci Pizza from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday for its Rest in Pizza drag brunch with rotating hosts, special guests, performances, tricks and treats, $6 skull shots, $8 bloody marys and all-you-can-drink mimosas. Drag performances take place 1-4 p.m.
• PRYSM Nightclub's carnival-gone-wrong Halloween bash Saturday will feature freak show fun and banging beats. Decor inspired by the dark side of carnival life and performances — including by contortionists, stilt walkers and clowns — will frighten and entertain. DJ MORTEN will perform a live set. Tickets are $15 and can be bought online.
• On Halloween, all six of Aloha Poké’s Hawaiian-themed eateries (including the Lakeview location) are dressing as traditional Mexican taquerias and adopting the name Hola Poké. Along with festive decor, the restaurant will serve its own take on Mexican food.
• Hit up Cheesie's on Halloween to see the staff dressed as the cast of "Rick and Morty" and to enjoy four unique sandwiches and drinks available for one day only.
