Family events in Lake County, IL

Get creative for Halloween by personalizing a canvas tote to carry your candy. This hands-on activity welcomes participants of all ages. Children need to attend with an adult.

Open to all ages, this gathering encourages bringing moms, daughters, sisters, and friends. Snacks and prizes are part of the fun, creating a chance to laugh, play, and connect. Admission is $5 for ladies and $2 for kids.

Experience the colors of autumn at Heller Nature Center in Highland Park with a hands-on forest exploration. Stroll through prairies glowing with seasonal hues, gather acorns and native seeds to support next spring’s prairie growth, and create leaf print art to bring home. Children will spend time at a forest sit spot to observe the changing landscape and sketch what they notice, building a deeper connection to the natural world through play and discovery. This outdoor program is presented in partnership with The Alliance for Early Childhood. Designed for ages 6 months to 10 years. A companion Winter Forest Exploration invites participants to revisit the same sit spot and see how the surroundings have transformed.

A monthly train run with trains operating throughout the day, offering a family-friendly way to enjoy time around the rails.

Celebrate the season with a community trunk or treat in the Hope Lutheran Church parking lot, created for families and kids of all ages. Costumes are encouraged for children, and there will be plenty to do, including mini pumpkin decorating, games, refreshments, and treats. Capture family photos with special guests, the Headless Horseman and Mom & Pop’s Big Foot. Explore 20 decorated trunk stations offering goodies for the kids. Admission is free, and organizers ask that families reserve complimentary tickets in advance to help with planning. Open to everyone.

Pumpkin Jubilee returns to Lakefront Park with a full slate of family-friendly fall activities hosted by Fox Lake Parks and Recreation. Highlights include pumpkin carving, food and craft vendors, a trackless train, a kids costume contest, complimentary face painting and balloon twisting, and a DJ with dancing. Look for a performance from the Grant Community High School Marching Band. Guests from Libertyville Recreation will arrive by Metra, and diaper donations will be collected to support Keeping Families Covered. Admission is free, and pumpkin carving is $4.

College of Lake County marks the opening of its Urban Farm Center with a free community gathering at the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan. Explore the new center, learn more about the space, taste offerings from local farmers and vendors, and enjoy art, music, and community. Everyone is welcome. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Celebrate Halloween with costumes and a community walk that features trick-or-treating at local business tables and trunks. Enjoy a giant pumpkin bounce house, a pumpkin patch, a storybook walk, and more seasonal fun. Dress for the weather and bring a bag for candy. Every child 12 and under must be registered to receive a wristband for candy, while those 13 and older do not register and will not receive candy. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please arrive at your designated check-in time, as same-day registrations are not accepted. Held in the Barefoot Bay parking lot. Cost is Residents $0 and Non-residents $5.

Kirchweihfest offers a festive gathering with food for sale and beverages served at a cash bar. A $10 donation is requested, and Jugend and kinder are free. Food and drinks are obtained with tickets that can be purchased using cash or credit cards.

At Lindenhurst Center, this community market brings together local artisans, farmers and growers, makers, and food vendors. Visitors will find fresh, locally grown produce, homemade foods and sweet treats, along with handmade crafts, unique gifts, and other one of a kind discoveries in a welcoming, community focused setting. Each market features a meet and greet with Wagging Hearts Adoptions at AHA! Resale, and adoptable kittens and dogs are part of the experience, with For Good Rescue bringing adoptable dogs on select dates. This edition adds a Halloween twist.

St. Mark’s is hosting a Fall Fest with a mix of food, games with prizes, Bingo, a cake walk, and activities for kids. The Pulla Bread Bake Sale will offer Finnish cardamom bread prepared by the Women of St. Mark’s. Food and game tickets will be available on site. A 50/50 raffle will be held, with tickets priced at $1 each or six for $5, and winners do not need to be present. The event is open to everyone, and no connection to St. Mark’s is required.

All Booked Up: Tween Book Club invites readers to explore a new book each month. Each session starts with a group discussion of the story and ends with a craft or activity. Selections include Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse in August and Bumps in the Night by Amalie Howard in October. Registration for each session is available through the library calendar.