Calling all ghosts, ghouls and goblins! This October, Naperville Public Library is transforming into a hub of Halloween fun for all ages.
Whether you’re a little monster excited for spooky storytimes, a teen looking to unleash your creativity in wicked writing contests or an adult ready to dive into chilling crafts, the library has something eerie and exciting just for you. From now through the end of the month, get ready to celebrate the season with programs designed to bring out the Halloween spirit in everyone.
To see a full list of programs, go to naperville-lib.org/events.
CHILDREN
Halloween Story Stroll at the Grand Pavilion, 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 18: Come in costume and enjoy a Halloween Story Stroll at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion that combines the benefits of literacy, physical fitness and family fun. Pages from our featured fall-themed picture book will be posted along a designated walking path. Maps will be available at Nichols Library, and participants can read and stroll at their own pace. At the end of the stroll, kids can make a craft that complements the picture book.
Halloween on the Riverwalk at Nichols Library, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, and Halloween in the Park at 95th Street Library, 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30: Goblins, pumpkins and puppets, oh my! Children and their grown-ups can dress in costume and enjoy Halloween fun at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre or Wagner Family Pavilion. Get into the spirit with stories, songs and a puppet show about this favorite fall holiday.
TEENS
Frightful Nights Teen Writing Contest at all locations Oct. 1-24: Calling all teen writers! We want your creepiest stories, spookiest poems or darkest tales. Just keep it under 100 words! Submit your fright-filled short stories online or at any adult and teen services desk from Oct. 1-24.
Teen DIY: Rhinestone Spider Web at 95th Street Library, 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9: Add a little bling to this Halloween season! Bring your crafting spirit and create a spooky spider web made of sparkly rhinestones.
Teen Halloween Escape Room at 95th Street Library, 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13: Think you have what it takes to escape? Team up with your friends and put your puzzle-solving skills to the test in this spooky Halloween-themed escape room. You’ll have 30 minutes to uncover clues and break out before the time runs out.
ADULTS
Spirits and Seances at 95th Street Library, 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2: Join Rebecca Tulloch as she explores the haunting world of Victorian Spiritualism, which was sparked by the grief of more than 600,000 Civil War deaths. Discover how mediums spoke to the dead, see eerie ghost photos from spirit photographers, and meet the skeptics who tried to expose them. Then participate in a friendly séance in which ghosts from beyond may make their presence known.
Crafternoon: Owl Witch Gathering at 95th Street Library, 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9; Nichols Library at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21; and Naper Blvd. Library at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22: Get into the Halloween spirit by creating your own mini scene! You’ll build a spooky little world featuring a pinecone witch, ghost and cauldron.
Lights Out, Everybody: Mystery and Horror During the Golden Age of Radio at 95th Street Library at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16: Step into the world of old-time radio, where sound alone made for spine-chilling stories. Featuring clips from classic mystery and horror shows, including Escape, Inner Sanctum, and Lights Out, this presentation explores how voices, music and sound effects turn radio into a “theater of the mind.”
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.