Guide to Chicago Fall Festivals

Chicago fall festivals such as Oktoberfest in Naperville, Monster Madness in Lisle, and Navy Fear at Navy Pier, are plentiful this harvest season throughout the Chicagoland region.

Oktoberfest is downtown Naperville's fall festival October 5 through 7, 2007. Hours are 6 to 10pm on Friday, Noon to 11pm on Saturday, and Noon to 6pm on Sunday. Naperville's Oktoberfest activities include authentic German food and beer, German music and dancing. Family Day is Sunday October 7 sponsored by the Heritage YMCA. Children are admitted for free on Family Day and general admission to Oktoberfest costs $5. The Illinois Festival Association named Naperville's Oktoberfest "Best Fall Fest in Illinois." Proceeds from the Rotary Club-sponsored German Fall Festival benefit local charities.

The Chicago suburb of Elmhurst offers Family Fun Fest featuring Safety Town Trick or Treating on Saturday October 6, 2007 from 10am to 1pm. The fall festival is at the Depot at 511 York Road. Fall festival family activities include pumpkin carving and decorating, games, face painting, pony ride, and petting zoo and more. Admission to Family Fun Fest is free and some of the events cost money.

Navy Pier on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago presents Navy Fear sponsored by CVS Pharmacy this 2007 Halloween season. Navy Fear is open October 5 to 8, 12 to 14, 19 to 21, and 24 to 31. Demons of the Deep, intended for children ages 8 and older and Ghostly Gardens for children under 8, are two separately priced Halloween attractions. Shock on the Dock is a free, frightening walk down Dock Street. Friday nights in October are called Friday Frights and fireworks light up Navy Pier and Lake Michigan at 9pm.

The Katherine Legge Memorial Lodge at 5901 South County Line Road in Hinsdale offers a Fall Festival with traditional harvest activities. Pumpkin carving, scary stories, seasonal games, a petting zoo, and more fall festivities take place on Sunday October 7, 2007 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.