Where to Take the Family This Halloween Weekend on the North Shore
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means the whole day is open before the trick-or-treaters arrive. Whether you want to get the kids out of the house for a few hours or you’re setting up for a busy night at your own front door (especially if you live in a high-traffic neighborhood), here are some ideas to fill the day, all based around the North Shore.
Tipsy Paint in Glenview
Tipsy Paint is hosting a Mommy & Me tutorial on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Kids and parents are encouraged to come in costume and paint a ghost-themed canvas together, and there’s a complimentary s’mores bar to keep everyone fueled. It’s a nice way to end up with a keepsake from the weekend, and it leaves you home in plenty of time to get ready for the evening. Tickets for the event are $30 and you can register online.
Spooky Skate at Centennial Ice Rinks
If your kids have energy to burn, head to Centennial Ice Rinks in Wilmette, where a Halloween-themed skate takes place during public skating hours starting at 1:00 p.m. There’s a costume contest and games on the ice, and all ages are welcome. It’s a good way to tire everyone out before the evening’s sugar rush, especially for kids who already love to skate. Regular entry fees are under $10, but if you go in costume, it’s only $5. Buy tickets when you show up.
Skokie’s Scream Scene Haunted House
For families with older kids or teens, the Skokie Park District’s annual haunted house has been drawing crowds since 1997 and has become a local tradition. This recommendation is for those who enjoy the scare-factor of Halloween. Volunteers dress up in costume and go all out for this event. Fit it into the Halloween weekend by going on Friday or Sunday night, located at the abandoned Skokie Water Playground. General admission tickets are $14 and can be purchased through the website.
Legendary Late Hours at the Field Museum
If trick-or-treating isn’t on your agenda and you don’t mind the drive into the city, the Field Museum is offering extended hours on the 31st as part of its Legendary Late Hours program. You can see SUE the T. rex, the Chicago Archaeopteryx, and the rest of the museum’s exhibits well into the evening, a different kind of “spooky” for the dinosaur-obsessed. The museum will stay open until 9:00 p.m., with the final entry time being 8:00 p.m. Purchase your tickets through their website.
A Cozy Night In
You don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy the holiday. In between answering the door for trick-or-treaters, settle in with some Halloween movies and a bowl of candy. Childhood favorites like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown make for a nostalgic night, while Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas will fit the mood and get you in the holiday spirit for the latter half of the year. If you’re a true horror fanatic, The Shining or Psycho should satisfy your interests.
Halloween is also a great excuse to start a tradition of your own. Bake a Halloween treat with your family before trick-or-treating, take a family photo in costume on the front steps, or have a yearly scary-movie pick. Traditions like these don’t need to be anything crazy. They just give you something to look forward to, and years from now, they’re often what the kids remember most.
