Halloween and Day of the Dead events are underway in the Elgin area now through early November. Here’s a chronological list to help you plan your fall fun.
“Something Wicked,” now through Sunday, Nov. 1, in the gallery at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. The free exhibit features pieces from almost 80 artists that are fitting for the season, according to its website. For gallery hours, a virtual tour and audio descriptions, go to sidestreetstudioarts.org/somethingwicked.
“El Trote De Las Calacas” (The Skeleton Trot), a 5K race and walk, steps off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, from a course that begins and ends at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Honoring the Day of the Dead, the race day celebration will feature giant puppets, live music, food trucks and a marketplace. For information, go to gailborden.info/trote.
Ofrenda comunitaria del Día de Muertos, a Day of the Dead exhibit, will be open from Saturday, Oct. 10, through Tuesday, Nov. 3 in the Grove Room on the second floor of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. For more information, go to gailborden.info/ofrenda.
The Ghost Story Train pulls out of the depot station at 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 10, 17 and 24, at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. LaFox St., South Elgin. The family-friendly event includes spooky stories and campfire songs. Tickets are $20 per person. For information, go to foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train.
“Boo Bash” will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, on the lawn outside Gail Borden Public Library’s Rakow Branch, 2751 W. Bowes Road, Elgin. The free costume party will feature a pumpkin-carving demonstration, games and crafts. For more information on this and other seasonal events at the library, go to www.gailborden.info/halloween.
“Nightmare On Chicago Street,” Elgin’s big downtown zombie-themed bash, expands to two nights this year, from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Tickets per night range from $40.86 to $96.48. For more information, go to nightmareonchicagostreet.com.
“Dark Hollows Haunted Hike” is being held at Three Fires Council/Scouting America’s Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. Hikers must register for a time slot from 7 to 10:20 p.m. on Fridays, Oct. 16 and 23, and Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 24. Tickets for the 45-minute walk are available only online and are $32.07. For information, go to darkhollowshayride.org.
“Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure” will be staged at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Blizzard Theater, Building H, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. According to the ECC website, the bilingual production involves a candy skeleton coming to life and finding the true meaning of Día de Muertos. Tickets are $5. For tickets and more information, go to eccartscenter.org/tickets/eventdetails.aspx#event-27CSSK
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.“Boo Thru,” a reverse trunk-or-treat, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Randall Oaks Park, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Families drive through the park for candy and seasonal surprises. Registration for 15-minute timeslots is required. Cost per carload is $6 for 15-minute time slots. Registration is required at dtpd.org/special-events.
West Dundee will hold two Halloween parties on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Grafelman Park, 112 N. Fifth St. From noon to 3 p.m. there will be a family-friendly gathering featuring a costume contest, kid activities, a straw bale maze, hayrides and a house decorating contest. In lieu of an entry fee, food and monetary donations to FISH Food Pantry are encouraged. From 4 to 10 p.m. the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce and the village will hold an event featuring bands Caesar Salad & the Spicy Croutons followed by Bad Candy. Attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. For more information, call 847-551-3800.
Dundee Township Park District’s “Dia de los Muertos Celebration” will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville. A community ofrenda will be on display, and there will be games, crafts, live music, entertainment and a costume contest. Tickets are $2. Registration is encouraged. For information, go to dtpd.org/special-events.
Sleepy Hollow Service Club’s “Halloween in the Hollow” will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Sabatino Park, 145 Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. The free event features a chili cooking contest, costume parade, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, concessions and bonfire. The Headless Horseman rides through the park to end the night. For information, go to sleepyhollowil.org/community/page/halloween-hollow-october-24-2026.
A Día de los Muertos ofrenda will be on display from Sunday, Oct. 25, through Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the bookstore hallway, Building B at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. For information, call 847-697-1000.
The Elgin Police Department “Halloween Extravaganza” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, outside police headquarters, 151 Douglas Ave. The free event will have a Star Wars theme, a visit from Darth Vader, music, community resources, a haunted house, trick-or-treating, snacks and a costume contest for kids 12 and younger. For information, call 847-289-2588.
“Fall Fest,” a costumed 5K Fun Run and Mini Monster Dash all take place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., Carpentersville. Registration for the race, which begins at 9 a.m., is $20. The free, family-friendly dash starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by trunk-or-treating. Some Fall Fest events have been incorporated into the day due to that event being postponed by bad weather. For race registration, go to www.cville.org/FormCenter/Special-Event-15/2026-Spooky-Sprint-5K-Registration-115.
“Boo at the Zoo” will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Children can trick-or-treat all day, and there will be costume parades at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. For information, go to dtpd.org/boo-at-the-zoo.
“Echoes of the Forgotten Passengers Destination the 1920s” takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at The Depot, 310 N. River St., East Dundee. The free event will feature a traveling circus, tarot reader, medium, fortune teller, stories of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Harry Houdini’s magic parlor, a mad scientist’s laboratory, an old-time newspaper office, a silent movie and a speakeasy. For more information, call 847-426-2255.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News.