Naperville is turning Halloween into a two‑week community celebration that balances fun for little goblins and grown‑up ghouls alike. Below is a chronological guide to the events, ticket information and practical tips for families planning their spooky outings.
Friday, Oct. 16 – Naperville Woman’s Club
From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. the historic Naperville Woman’s Club at 14 S. Washington St. will host a candlelit scavenger hunt. Participants check in between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m., receive clues, and wander through participating restaurants, shops and landmarks. The evening ends with music, karaoke, refreshments and prizes. Tarot readings and a cash‑only “Boos Pull” are also available. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Tickets cost $35, are non‑refundable and limited; proceeds support NWC scholarships and local charities, including Hesed House.
Sunday, Oct. 18 – Tapville Social
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 216 S. Washington St., Tapville Social invites families to test their knowledge of classic horror films, famous villains and the iconic Sanderson sisters. Costumes are welcome. Parking can be tight downtown, so plan ahead.
Friday, Oct. 23 – Fort Hill Activity Center
From 6 p.m., the Fort Hill Activity Center will host a Halloween night for children, featuring games, activities, dinner and juice provided by the Naperville Park District. Registration is required through napervilleparks.org.
Friday, Oct. 23 – Saturday, Oct. 24 – Naper Settlement (Adult Bash)
From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night, Naper Settlement at 523 S. Webster St. will hold its annual adult‑focused Halloween bash. Highlights include live music, fire dancers, a costume contest, a Moonlight Market of vendors, black‑light painting in the Dark Art Gallery, a 15‑foot werewolf sculpture, and a Food Truck Graveyard with a BOOze Bar. Admission is $25 per adult and included with Settlement membership; IDs are checked at the gate and no one under 21 is admitted. Tips at the beverage tents benefit The Exchange Club of Will‑DuPage Counties (Friday) and Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley (Saturday). Tickets are sold only through the Settlement’s website or at the guest services tent.
Saturday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 25 – Naper Settlement (Family Spooktacular)
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Sat.) and noon to 4 p.m. (Sun.), the Settlement launches a new family‑friendly tradition for children ages 3‑12. Activities include a fright‑free haunted house inflatable, slime‑making at Ghoul School, canvas painting with Pinot’s Palette, laser tag, and food trucks. The headliner is The Little Mermen & The Princess Pals, a Disney tribute band performing two 60‑minute concerts each day. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for youth ages 4‑12, and free for children under 4. Adults 21 and over may visit the Spooky Spirits Bar.
Saturday, Oct. 24 – Rotary Hill Riverwalk
At noon, Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk will host a free family event organized by the Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. Activities include pumpkin‑decorating contests, costume contests, games, and food vendors. Details and racing kits are available at turningpointeautismfoundation.org.
Sunday, Oct. 25 – Downtown Naperville Trick‑or‑Treat
From 10 a.m. to noon, the Downtown Naperville Alliance’s annual daytime trick‑or‑treat invites thousands of costumed children to shop and dine at participating businesses. Parents should accompany children, and free parking is available in downtown decks, including Van Buren and Water Street.
Sunday, Oct. 25 – Riverwalk Grand Pavilion
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Naperville Park District offers a free Halloween fest for kids 10 and under at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 912 Sindt Court. Games, activities and goodies are provided. Costumes should be family‑friendly, masks must leave eyes fully visible, and props resembling real weapons are prohibited. The event is presented by Woody Buick GMC.
Saturday, Oct. 31 – 5th Avenue Farmer’s Market Parade
On Halloween morning, the 5th Avenue Naperville Farmer’s Market (200 E. 5th Ave.) will host a parade from 7 a.m. to noon. Families can enjoy the parade and pick up fall goodies before the market closes.
Saturday, Oct. 31 – Rotary Hill Carillon
At 7 p.m., the Millennium Carillon will ring classic Halloween tunes over the Riverwalk. Bring a blanket and enjoy the music after your trick‑or‑treat route.
Additional Activities
Through Oct. 31, Knoch Knolls Nature Center (320 Knoch Knolls Rd.) offers free, self‑guided indoor “Creepy Critters” scavenger hunts and Halloween‑themed exhibits. Open weekdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 1:30‑4:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
From Oct. 16 through Oct. 31, Naperville Trolley & Tours runs themed trolley tours of the city’s most elaborate Halloween houses. Tours run roughly 7‑10 p.m., last about an hour, and are heated and enclosed for comfort. Tickets are $28.75 on Oct. 19‑21 and 26‑28, and $34.50 on other nights, plus a booking fee. Reservations are required; walk‑ins are not accepted. Infants must be ticketed, and sealed drinks only are permitted.
Naperville Police advise families to wrap up younger children’s activities as it gets dark and to have older kids finish by 8 p.m. The city does not set official trick‑or‑treat hours by ordinance, but most families follow roughly 4‑8 p.m.
Original reporting: Positively Naperville (Aurora area) — read the source article.
