What to Do Halloweekend 2024 in Wisconsin and Illinois (Waukegan, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Lake County Illinois Areas)

It’s almost Halloween Weekend! Check out today’s blog to find some fun events across Wisconsin and Illinois to make the most of this festive season before it’s gone. Don’t let your shoulda-coulda-woulda haunt you like ghosts in an old cemetery!  Live your best life now instead of in the afterlife, with these parades, movie nights, costume contests, and more. It’s a great selection of community Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos events right here on the blog!

What to Do Halloween Weekend in Chicagoland Area and Southern Wisconsin

Horror cinephiles rejoice, for The Music Box Theatre in Logan is offering “Music Box of Horrors: The Dream Child Film Series” featuring classic and cult horror movies including Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes, Psyko III: The Musical, The House of the Devil, and more sponsored by Shudder, as part of their month-long Halloween Celebration. Tickets can be purchased online.

Now through October 31st, enjoy a special series of slashers and classic horror at the ChiTown Movies Drive-In Theatre!  Book a single showing, double feature, or triple threat experience, if you dare. Tickets can be purchased online.

The Logan Theatre is celebrating Halloween week/weekend with a series of new and classic Horror movie releases!  Catch Creepshow, The Exorcist, Smile 2, and Terrifier 3 at select showings. On October 29th, you’re in for a treat with the original Halloween and The Shining. November 1st is also screening Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City. Tickets can be purchased online.

This weekend, experience the ultimate in horror movie thrills and chills as the Dungeon of Doom in Zion celebrates iconic horror movie villains for “Slasher Weekend” from October 31st through November 2nd.  Make your way through 45,000 square feet of some of the scariest and most exhilarating haunts!  27 years and counting of being one of the top-rated horror experiences and haunted attractions in the Chicagoland area. Tickets can be purchased online.

Don’t miss the final week at Realm of Terror Haunted House, with Halloween fun running October 31st through November 2nd. Enjoy some delicious seasonal themed foods, a snack menu featuring classic movie snacks, signature spooky cocktails for adults and mocktail options for all, horror-themed souvenirs and gifts, escape room experiences and games, and classic haunted house walkthroughs. Tickets can be purchased online.

Ring in Halloween with pride at the 27th Annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade in Chicago’s landmark LGTBQ+ Northalsted Neighbourhood on October 31st Halloween Night. The parade is free to watch and attend and features fire performers, live musical performances and marching bands, a pep squad, and 5 categories of costume contests with prizes! After the parade, various venues around town will be hosting pop-up parties, dinner and drink specials, a Drag Competition,Trick or Treating, and more!  Register for the costume contest before the parade at Halsted and Belmont or online.

Grab your friends and head on over to The Checkpoint in Kenosha on Thursday, October 31st to enjoy an evening of Killer Karaoke starting at 7PM. There will be pumpkin painting fun, live tarot readings, drink specials with seasonal surprises, free caricature portraits from a guest artist, and more.  There’s also a Halloween Costume Contest, with the best-dressed winner receiving a $50 gift certificate, so make sure to put your best foot forward in your costume designs!

Join your friends for an evening of drinks, dancing, and costumed fun at Dukes On Water in Milwaukee from 5PM to 11PM on Thursday, October 31st, and be ready to join the festive pub crawl event! Each venue along the tour is offering Hallowen drink specials, costume contests, door prizes, and more!  Come dressed in your Halloween finest and you may even win a special prize.

Enjoy the revelry at the Haunted Hoedown featuring Do-Si-Do at Hiawatha Bar and Grill in Sturtevant on Thursday October 31st from 6PM to 8:30PM. All visitors are encouraged to wear their best Western/Cowboy themed costumes or Halloween finery and participate in the costume contest fun!  No experience required to participate in the square dancing events.

If you enjoy getting dressed to the 9’s and leaning into your most lush, over the top gothic finery, you’ll be delighted to receive this invitation to the Revenants Vampire Ball and Fashion Show at The Cooperage in Milwaukee. This 21+ event is Black Tie Vampire Attire Required, so give us your best lace gowns, velvet arm gloves, luxurious gothic tuxes, and more.   Doors open at 6:30PM for VIP and 7:30PM for GA.  You’ll enjoy an evening of live entertainment, DJ dance parties, themed libations, and submit yourself to the vampire council for consideration in best dressed contests. There will also be special Audio and Visual installations by SUBSPACE, and a Fashion Show by Silversark.  Tickets can be purchased online.

The Cultural and Civic Center of Round Lake Beach is celebrating Day of the Dead on Friday, November 1st from 6PM to 9PM.  This free event is open to the whole community!  Enjoy traditional folkloric dances, traditional ofrenda altars, children’s games and crafts, artisanal vendors, delicious traditional food and drink, and more!

Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos in Highland Park on November 2nd at the Recreation Center. It’s a free, all ages event! Enjoy traditional dance with Ballet Folklorico Tayahu, music by the Mariachi Sirens Dance, family friendly activities, seasonal crafts, and sugar skull face painting!  Running from 1PM to 3PM on Saturday November 2nd.

On Saturday November 2nd and Sunday November 3rd from 12PM to 6PM, enjoy the Ofrenda de La Comunidad event for the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration in Waukegan. Head over to the Belvidere Discount Mall to enjoy live music, local small businesses and vendors, face painting, and family-friendly entertainment. Bring your loved ones photos and participate in the community ofrenda ceremony.

Join in the local celebration of Mexican culture and heritage at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts right here in Waukegan on Saturday, November 2nd from 1PM to 4PM!  The free family friendly event includes ofrenda altar exhibits, art vendors, food and drink, live dance demonstrations, and sugar skull workshops.

Partake in a cooking class celebrating local Mexican culture and foods with the Traditional Dia De Los Muertos Breakfast Cooking Class at the Joyful Gourmet of Libertyville from 9AM to 11AM.  You’ll make your own pan de muerto dough, Mexican hot chocolate, Xec salad, and more.

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