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Enjoy Fall, Halloween in the Forest Preserves of Cook County

A Forest Preserves staff member holding River Trail Nature Center's ambassador barred owl
Photo by Jerry Attere.

From fall color hikes to costume-clad children and meeting “spooky” native animals, there are numerous opportunities for families and visitors of all ages to join us this season and enjoy a variety of fun fall activities!

Remember: Most in-person events & programs require registration. All participants are required to wear masks and practice physical distancing. 


Halloween Events

If you’re looking for some Halloween fun, check out these great events:


Halloween Hoot n Howl logo
Special Event Fri, Oct 6 • 5 pm

Halloween Hoot and Howl

Keystone Park • River Forest, IL 60305
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sat, Oct 7 • 6 pm

Not Your Typical Pumpkin Party

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
People canoeing and kayaking at Skokie Lagoons
Sat, Oct 14 • 12 pm

Fall Paddle Festival

Tower Road Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60093 (near Winnetka)
People dancing at the River Trail Nature Center Fall Festival in 2012.
Special Event Sun, Oct 15 • 10 am

Fall Festival

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
Sat, Oct 21 • 1 pm

Pumpkinpalooza

Bunker Hill • Niles, IL 60714
Sun, Oct 22 • 9 am

Spooky Shuffle 5k/10k

Swallow Cliff Woods-South • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)
Crabtree Nature Center building in Barrington Hills
Sun, Oct 22 • 10 am

Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt

Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010
Rolling Knolls Pavilion
Thu, Oct 26 • 4 pm

Teen Exploration Day: Pumpkin Carving

Rolling Knolls • Elgin, IL 60120
Fri, Oct 27 • 4 pm

Stars, Spooky Stories, & S ’mores

Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sat, Oct 28 • 6 pm

Who, Who, Who’s Afraid of the Woods?

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
Crabtree Nature Center building in Barrington Hills
Sat, Oct 28 • 6 pm

Jack O’Lantern Trail

Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sat, Oct 28 • 8 pm

The Return of Scary Stories

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sun, Oct 29 • 10:30 am

The Un-haunted Forest

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
Sun, Oct 29 • 12 pm

Trunk or Treat

Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sun, Oct 29 • 1:30 pm

The Un-haunted Forest

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

Fall Color Events

Visitors can experience the beauty of warm autumn hues during fall in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, with numerous opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature’s warm colors and crisp air. If you’re interested in a guided fall color hike, check out these events below:


Trailside Museum building in River Forest
Sat, Sep 30 • 10 am

Autumn Nature Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Sun, Oct 1 • 1 pm

Autumn Prairie Walk

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
Trailside Museum building in River Forest
Sun, Oct 8 • 10 am

Autumn Nature Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sun, Oct 8 • 10:30 am

Fall Walk

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sun, Oct 8 • 1:30 pm

Fall Walk

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Mon, Oct 9 • 10:30 am

Fall Walk

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Mon, Oct 9 • 1:30 pm

Fall Walk

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
Wellness in the Woods logo
Tue, Oct 10 • 1 pm

World Mental Health Day

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480
People canoeing and kayaking at Skokie Lagoons
Sat, Oct 14 • 12 pm

Fall Paddle Festival

Tower Road Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60093 (near Winnetka)
People dancing at the River Trail Nature Center Fall Festival in 2012.
Special Event Sun, Oct 15 • 10 am

Fall Festival

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Sun, Oct 15 • 1 pm

Fall Color Walk

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
Sat, Oct 21 • 10 am

Fall Color Walk

Palos Park Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Sat, Oct 21 • 1 pm

Fall Color Walk

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
The visitors center at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
Sat, Oct 21 • 1 pm

Fall Color Walk

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480
Trailside Museum building in River Forest
Sun, Oct 22 • 10 am

Fall Color Walk (in Polish)

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
River Trail Nature Center Building in Northbrook
Sun, Oct 22 • 10 am

Fall Photography

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sun, Oct 22 • 1:30 pm

Oak Walk

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sun, Oct 29 • 8 am

Fall Bird Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sat, Nov 4 • 1 pm

Birds in Autumn

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sun, Nov 5 • 12 pm

Autumnal Artmaking

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473