FEATURED EVENTS

Experience Homer’s Odyssey
read aloud in community, and
across languages. Join us as we once again partner with UIC Chicago’s Department of Classic and Mediterranean Studies to bring Homer’s timeless tale to life, read aloud, from beginning to end. Together, we celebrate the Odyssey’s
enduring voice across cultures.

Celebrate the spooky season with trick-or-treating throughout the Pier while wearing your favorite costumes. Enjoy sweet treats, free workshops, live performances, festive frights and family-friendly fun on the most spirited night of the season.

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the park! Kids are invited to enjoy Halloween-themed games, tasty treats, fun crafts, and more. Don’t forget to wear your best costume for a chance to show off your spooky style! This family-friendly event is perfect for a safe and festive fall celebration. Halloween in the Parks is Presented by Mars

Step into the shadows for eerie animal encounters, exploration of the 1876 mansion, live musical performances, and the strange wonders lurking in the night woods. Ages 13 & up. Event is free, but registration is required.

Get ready for a magical Halloween experience! Start the evening by learning and creating your own magic tricks in a fun, hands-on session. Then, sit back and be amazed by a professional Halloween magic show filled with spellbinding performances. Halloween in the Park is presented by Mars.

Join neighbors and community members for a special Día de los Muertos gathering at Steelworkers Park on the evening of November 1. Participants are invited to contribute photographs, cherished objects, flowers, and other meaningful items to community altar tables, honoring loved ones and celebrating the traditions and symbolism of Día de los Muertos. As dusk arrives, we’ll gather around a bonfire to share stories, reflect, and enjoy the warmth of community. Hot beverages and seasonal treats will be provided as we celebrate remembrance, connection, and the lives of those who came before us.

Chicago children and their families will BECOME the parade when they don their costumes and join the procession down tree-lined Russell Drive. Dance teams, musicians, acrobats, sports mascots and other spectacles will dazzle them as they make their way down the route – and the first 5,000 kids will receive a complimentary candy bag and other goodies at the closing arches! Don’t miss your chance to join the fun!

Join us under the stars for a free screening of "Hocus Pocus". Bring snacks, blankets, or lawn chairs and enjoy a night of family fun. The movie will start at dusk. Hosted by Athletic Park Advisory Council. For more information, visit www.athleticfieldpark.com

Enjoy refreshments while exploring the museum’s exhibits after hours, including the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, and meet some special guest birds of prey and some of our resident live animals up close! Sip a special Nature Museum-themed brew: Golden Chin Pale Ale made by Pig Minds Brewing while you explore your creative side at Nature Night Out! Whether you come with friends or make new ones, it’s a fun way to unwind and tap into your creativity. Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab will bring along some special guest birds of prey for guests to see and learn more about. Guests who come in costume will be entered into a raffle for a nature museum gift basket! Guests in nature themed costumes get TWO entries! As a special bonus, the first 50 guests will receive a branded Nature Night Out pint glass. We hope you'll join us for an engaging evening of nature, creativity, and community.

Tales of strange sounds, unexplained sightings, and untimely endings await as you explore Prairie Avenue after dark! During this 60 minute walking tour through the Prairie Avenue Historic District, learn about the mystery surrounding the death of Marshall Field Jr., the tragic events that plagued the Philander Hanford house, the lingering ghost of Edson Keith, and more - if you dare! Advance ticket required.

Join us on Friday, Sept. 25, from 10 am - 5 pm to explore the museum, our new exhibit, and programming in the Art Studio, Tinkering Lab and Pritzker Playspace. On Kids Free Days, all kids (17 years or younger) receive FREE admission! Children must be accompanied by an adult (18+) for museum entry. Advance tickets or reservations are not necessary for Kids Free Day. Final admissions are allowed no later than 60 minutes before the museum closes.

Free with regular Museum admission and for Members. Transform a vintage cabinet card or snapshot into a unique spirit photograph. Inspired by IAM collection artist Madge Gill and the spiritualist movement of the late 19th century, draw directly onto found photographs while imagining the aura, presence or spirit captured within the portrait.

Put on your funniest, scariest, most creative Halloween costumes and join us for a morning of Trick-or-Treating and holiday fun in the Northcenter neighborhood!

See your local park in a new light! The Nature Oasis Community Bonfire Series invites community members to experience their park by firelight. Spend the evening in the park meeting your neighbors, learning about local wildlife and warming up next to a fire! Unfortunately, we are not able to provide marshmallows just yet, but please feel welcome to bring your own and we will provide the roasting sticks. Join us within the first 15 minutes of the event for a brief lesson on campfire building.

An afterlife therapist and his daughter meet a friendly young ghost when they move into a crumbling mansion in order to rid the premises of wicked spirits. PG | 100 minutes | 1995 *Closed CaptionedStart time is approximate, all movies begin at dusk.

oin us for a Diwali celebration with Ms. Ajanta and the Bubbles Academy Team with dances, storytime, art, and snacks! Award-winning children’s author Ajanta Chakraborty, owner of Bollywood & Culture Groove, will lead an incredibly fun Dances & Stories session featuring the bestselling Diwali books of Maya & Neel's India Adventure series. Following the interactive storytime and open play, join the Bubbles Academy team for a Diwali-themed art project. Advance registration required. Up to 2 adults may accompany each registered child.

Children ages 0mo - 6yrs are invited to join us for our annual spooktacular and cutest costume party! Enjoy a special live concert by Miss Mel at 10:30am, spooky crafts, open play, a monster mash dance party, a costume parade, light refreshments, and more. Advance registration required. Up to 2 adults may accompany each registered child. Free parking available in the 1308 parking lot guest spots and free street parking on Potomac Ave, Elston Ave, and Magnolia Ave

Get ready for a Halloween celebration that's more fun than frightening at the Not So Scary Halloween Party at Bronzeville Children's Museum in Chicago! On Saturday, October 31, from 1–3 p.m., families can enjoy a festive afternoon filled with creative Halloween arts and crafts, a costume parade, a Halloween film, spooky storytelling, and more. It's a fun opportunity for little ghosts and goblins to show off their costumes, get crafty, and celebrate Halloween without too many scares! Admission is $10 per person.