Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade
It’s been a dozen years since this nighttime parade kicked off, celebrating “the artist’s holiday” of Halloween. Expect a night of dazzling sights, as costumed performers, puppets and floats make their way down Columbus Drive. Participants include Art Institute of Chicago, Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, DuSable Black History Museum, Kaotic Drumline, Trinity Irish Dance, Hōkūle’a Academy of Polynesian Arts and more. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 on Columbus Drive between Balbo and Monroe; free, more information at artsinthedark.com
Brett Goldstein
You’ve got two chances this weekend to catch Brett Goldstein spin out his latest stand-up on his “Sex, Death and Small Talk” tour. The Wall Street Journal called “The Second Best Night of Your Life,” his 2025 HBO special, “funny, if uneven.” But he’s still Roy Kent to most, a beloved “Ted Lasso” fixture you’ll want to keep watching. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $217.70 at msg.com
Havoc Mobb Deep and Talib Kweli
Havoc formed the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep with the late Prodigy. Now he performs live at the Ramova Theatre with Talib Kweli. Check out Havoc’s appearance on Talib Kweli’s “People’s Party” podcast; it’s a few years old but fans should give it a listen. 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St.; tickets from $37.73 at ramovachicago.com
Fruit Bats
Fruit Bats (aka Eric D. Johnson) returns to Chicago to play Salt Shed. In a review, Rolling Stone said Fruit Bats’ latest album, “The Landfill,” “bristles with live energy” as it “explores the unglamorous bits that make up the human story.” Matthew Logan Vasquez also performs. 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets from $50.15 at saltshedchicago.com
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The jam band led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks stops in Chicago on its tour promoting its sixth album, “Future Soul.” The band won a 2012 Grammy for best blues album for their debut, “Revelator.” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23-24, 26-27 at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $52.95 at msg.com
Ubuntu Festival
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians hosts the last two nights of its three-day Ubuntu Festival. Named for an African philosophy centered on the bonds that connect humanity, the festival will feature the Thaddeus Tukes Trio, the AACM Percussion Ensemble, Ernest Dawkins, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, Dushun Mosley, Mwata Bowden, Coco Elysses and more. 5 p.m.-8:45 p.m. through Oct. 24 at Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd.; tickets $40 at aacmchicago.org
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Milo Rossi
You might know him better by his social media moniker Miniminuteman. And if you do, you know you he spends his time debunking conspiracy theories and highlighting the value of archaeology and science. His YouTube channel has drawn more than 3.5 million subscribers. 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets $49 at thedentheatre.com
“Edward Scissorhands in Concert”
The Chicago Philharmonic will play Danny Elfman’s haunting score during an Auditorium Theatre screening of “Edward Scissorhands.” The 1990 Tim Burton classic stars a youthful Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder — then still a celebrity couple — in the touching story of an artificial man with blades for hands. It also features Vincent Price as the inventor, his final major film role. 7:30 p.m. Oct 24 at The Auditorium, 50 E Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets from $53 at auditoriumtheatre.org
“Behind the Scream with David Arquette”
Watch the 30-year-old horror-satire “Scream” and listen to actor David Arquette recount stories from his time on the set as Dewey Riley. A Q&A will be part of the night. Superfans, take note: You can pay extra for a photo opp. 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; tickets from $46.66 at paramountaurora.com
Fright at The Field
The Field Museum is getting spooky. For the rest of the month, it transforms its “Underground Adventure” exhibit into Underground MISadventure: Zombie Fungus,” highlighting weird and dangerous mushrooms. It also dresses up its “Plants of the World” exhibit as a “Halloween Harvest Maze” and offers special talks about spider webs and bats. And on Halloween, stay late from 6-9 p.m. for a Boo with SUE after-hours party. Through Nov. 1 at The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive; most events included with general admission (from $21; free to Illinois residents on Oct. 28); Boo with SUE and Nocturnal Garden Walk $40-$55; ticket details at fieldmuseum.org
Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to [email protected].