This Halloween season, West Side is brimming with haunted houses, trick-or-treats, costume contests and neighborhood celebrations.
We also tried to make sure we touched all of the corners of the West Side, finding activities as far north as the Milwaukee District West Metra Line tracks, as far south as the Island neighborhood and as far east as the east corner of East Garfield Park.
Haunted Houses (and Farms)
Columbus Park fieldhouse, 500 S. Central Ave., will host a “creative and spooktacular” haunted house Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those who like their Halloween more fun than scary can stop by the fieldhouse gym for Halloween-themed activities. The activities are free, but entry to the haunted house is $5.
And, on Halloween, BUILD Chicago is hosting a Halloween Spooky Farm event at its campus at 5100 W. Harrison St. The event, which will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature a haunted maze, along with “ghostly games” and treats.
Neighborhood Housing Services’ West Side office, 3601 W. Chicago Ave., will host its own haunted house the same night, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organized by the Kells park Community Council, the event will also feature costume contests and treats.
Trunk or Treats
The 15th Police District will have a trunk or treat Oct. 27 at the northeast corner of Harrison Street and Central Avenue, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The 11th Police District will host a trunk of treats Oct. 28 at East Garfield Park’s Horan Park, 3035 W. Van Buren St., from noon to 4 p.m.
Chicago Park District is organizing two trunk or treats in Austin on Halloween day, one at Austin Town Hall park, 5610 W. Lake St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and one at Moore Park, 5085 W. Adams St., at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Arts and Crafts
Kids ages 6 to 12 are invited to come to West Humboldt Park’s North Pulaski library, 4300 W. North Ave., on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for “a bunch of Halloween-themed science demonstrations and hands-on activities using common household items.” The event description promises kids a chance to make “self-inflating ghosts” and slime.
Kids and teens interested in making slime can stop by the Austin branch library, 5615 W, Race Ave., Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The staff promises that it will be “glow in the dark” and spooky, and all supplies will be provided.
And on Oct. 27, Rutherford Sayre Park, 6871 W. Belden Ave., is hosting a crafts event for kids ages 5 to 10 at 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. There’s a $10 fee to participate.
Community Celebrations
On Oct. 24, East Garfield Park’s Al Raby School, 3545 W. Fulton Blvd., will host a HalloWeek on the Block event from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., complete with “treats and activities for all ages.” Costumes are encouraged.
On Oct. 27, Village Keepers Project, a mutual support organization that seeks to build ties between West Humboldt Park and East and West Garfield Parks, will host a Haunted Village event. Held between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at 3717 W. Chicago Ave., it will feature food, games and free goodie bags. Village Keepers are advertising this as an event that is open to all communities.
Also on Oct. 27, Life-Chaing Community Outreach, an Austin faith-based organization, is hosting a Parents Night Out Boo Bash for Kids at 5900 W. North Ave. Running from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., it will feature a costume contest, pizza, candy bags and games and activities.
On Oct. 28, the Assumption Church, 5545 W. Harrison St., will host a less explicitly Halloween-themed Austin Community Fall Festival. The event, which will run from noon to 4 p.m., will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, a pumpkin patch, and pumpkin carving with 15th District police officers,
Later that day, at 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Island Oasis community garden, 1114 S. Mason Ave., will host the neighborhood’s fourth annual Halloween Spooktacular. The organizers promise “Free food, drinks, candy, and more.”
On Oct. 31, the Westside Health Authority’s Good Neighbor Campaign will help Austin’s 800 North Massosoit Avenue block club host a Halloween block party. It will kick off at 4 p.m. and offer plenty of free hot dogs and candy.
Other events
Galewood Neighbors organizations is running a Halloween decorating contest. Galewood residents are invited to take pictures of their decorations and send them, with their names and home addresses, to trista@galewoodneighbors.com by Oct. 25. The submissions will be posted on Galewood Neighbors’ Facebook page, and neighbors will have until Oct. 31 to like their favorite entry. Whichever submission get the most likes will win, and the winner will be announced on Nov. 1.
