Fall Festivals, Oktoberfests, Scarecrow Festivals, and Halloween Thrills and Chills in Illinois and Wisconsin for October 2024

Fall is finally here and with it comes spooky season! Today’s local community calendar of events is all about having a scary good time in October. We’re bringing you a selection of fun events all month-long with a special focus on Fall Festivals, Halloween events, and Oktoberfests!  Grab your friends and family and hop in your new car from Classic Auto Group in Waukegan and get ready for a fun-filled month of tricks and treats.

Wauke-Con is bringing all the comic book con fun from 12PM to 6PM at the Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan! Enter to win a signed Ray Bradbury comic book.

First Friday on Mainstreet Libertyville offers a plethora of fun activities, dinner and drink specials, and more throughout town on October 4th.

Muppets Haunted Mansion is happening on October 4th for Backyard Movie Under the Stars night at Side lot!

On Saturday October 12th at Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, make sure to stop by the Hispanic Heritage Vendor Market and EVent featuring local goods and artisan made items!

October 12th through the 18th at Harbor Brewing is the seasonally spooky Beetlejuice themed pop-up event in Lake Villa!

The REcycled Art Sale is happening at the Art Center of Highland Park from October 18th through the 26th!

Illinois Vintage Fest takes place October 19th and 20th at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Grayslake from 11AM to 6PM.

Goofy film buff and spooky theatrical Svengoolie is doing a special Meet and Greet event at the Volo Museum on October 26th!

The 2024 Lake County Film Festival at College of Lake County is taking place from Thursday October 31st through November 11th.

Bonus Fall Festivals, Halloween Fun, and Oktoberfests to enjoy this October in Illinois and Wisconsin

Scarecrow Fest at the Central Park Pavilion takes place on October 3rd from 4 to 5:30PM! Come decorate a scarecrow with your friends, local group, or family members. Enjoy complimentary snacks and help decorate the Sullivan Community Center for Halloween.

Fall Fest at Brothers’ Field in Long Grove is happening on October 5th starting at 11AM. Entertainment features the DIY Scarecrow Building Activities, halloween pumpkin decorating, live music, tractor rides, food trucks and snacks, and so much more!

Oktoberfest at Buffalo Creek Brewing from October 4th through the 6th features family-friendly fun! Step into the Bavarian-themed tap room filled to the brim with seasonal brews and live entertainment from special Bavarian music and open-air performances, free fall festival fun, competitions, and fun Oktoberfest outfits. In Long Grove.

Forest of Freaks is running starting October 4th from 7:30 to 11PM, and returns Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7:30PM to 11PM and OCtober 31st and November 1st from 7:30PM to 11PM in JAnesville Wisconsin

October 4th, 5th, and 6th at Downtown Highwood, come out for the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest and Skeleton Invasion events! Nightly lightings of hand carved pumpkin walls, costume contests, trick or treating, live music and entertainment, hayrides, vendors, food and drink, carnival rides and much more!

Wisconsin Fear Fest runs October 4th/5th, 11th-13th, 18th-20th, 24th-27th, and Oct 31st through Nov 1st at Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin.

The Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Festival is surely a sight to behold, and you can stop by October 5th and 6th from 9AM-5PM and 9AM-4PM. Enjoy carnival rides and games, children and family activities, raffles, craft vendors, artisans, local market, food, a tractor show, car show, The Giant Pumpkin Drop, and much more.

Thorp Pumpkin Festival is happening on October 5th from 9AM to 4PM and features more than 130 vendors, food trucks, and artisans as well as a petting zoo, rides, bouncy houses, live music, and more. There’s also a pumpkin painting contest, pumpkin carving contest, and The Great Pumpkin Weigh-In.

Septoberfest at the Beer Garden at Independence Grove features live music, a lakeside fire pit, trivia nights, a guided walk through Independence Grove, and more family-friendly fun! Happening on Wednesday and Thursday nights through the end of October. No Pets are allowed except for task-trained qualified service dogs.

It’s DIY Scarecrow Day in Historic Downtown Long Grove on Saturday October 12th from 12PM to 4PM in Long Grove. Reserve your time ASAP.

The Pumpkin Jubilee of Fox Lake invites local friends and families to join in the pumpkin carving fun and add them to the pumpkin wall! Local artisans and food trucks will be on site as well for shoppable fun and delicious seasonal eats. Happening October 19th from 3PM to 7PM.

Scarecrow Fest and Walk at the Lot in Highland Park is happening on October 19th from 12PM to 5PM! Come out for a scarecrow themed family fun day with kids activities and seasonal decor, and then check out the scarecrows decorated by locals and local businesses.

The Volo Museum has sponsored the annual Costume Party at Brothers’ Field in Long Grove on Friday October 25th at 5PM. There will be specialty cocktails, live music and dancing, halloween thrills and chills, a ghost walk, and more.

Oktoberfest Food Festival, Fright Fest, and Kids Boo Fest happening at Six Flags Great America through November 3rd. Halloween fun for all and plenty of thrills and chills no matter what age you are!

The Fox Lake Halloween Howl takes place on October 28th, and offers a full afternoon of family fun with hot chocolate, hay rides, hot dogs, and fun Halloween activities.

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