Chicago Fall Fun: 20 Best Fall Festivals, Events and Activities for Kids and Families

Find the best Chicago Fall Fun for kids and families with this roundup of local Fall Fun events and activities. There are so many family-friendly events taking place including pumpkin patches, scarecrow walks, pumpkin fests, harvest festivals, Oktoberfests and more. See our top picks for Chicago's best fall fun activities below, and visit to see a full listing on our Fall Fun calendar page!

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Des Plaines Fall Fest
September 13-15
Lake Park, 2200 Lee Street, Des Plaines
The free festival offers live music and entertainment, with a carnival, a Kid Zone, car show, food and vendors. All ages. Friday 6-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday noon-7pm.FREE.
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Oaktoberfest
September 13-14
Downtown Oak Park, Marion Street and North Boulevard, Oak Park
Celebrate the changing seasons at Oaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park. Enjoy an exciting live music line up, delicious foods from local restaurants, specialty craft beers, and a Kids Root Beer Garden. All ages. Friday 4pm to 10pm | Saturday 12pm to 10pm. Free.
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Fall Fun at Dollinger Farm
September 16 - October 30
Dollinger Family Farm, 7502 E. Hansel Rd., Channahon
Come and find your perfect pumpkin for carving, decorating, or making a pie. Whether you like tall ones, round, smooth, chunky, or warty, Dollinger Family Farm has the pumpkin for you. There is also a wide variety of gourds, squash, corn shocks, straw bales, mums, and mini pumpkins. Fall fun on the farm includes a 4-acre corn maze, farm animals, a bee barn, corn bin, Tipi, hay rides, train rides and more. Fees for some activities like corn maze, face painting and train. Admission is free with tickets required for some activities like the Corn Maze, Face Painting and Train Ride.
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Long Grove Apple Fest
September 20-22
Downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
Featuring pleny of delightful apple specialties, plus a stage full of great rhythm and sounds showcasing all your favorite styles of music. Indulge yourself (and your taste buds) with three fun-filled days that the entire family (including your fur-baby) can enjoy. All ages. Fri noon - 11pm, Sat 10am - 11pm, Sun 10am - 6pm. $5 per day, kids 12 and under free.
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The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
September 21
Stone Gathering Space in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, 3155 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
A multi-genre, multi-cultural medley is staged, including song singing, instrumental playing, folk dancing, Peking opera episodes, and fashion shows, among others, to honor an important Asian festival when back in their home countries people get together for family re-unions to celebrate a fruitful harvest, typically under a full moon. All ages. 5-7pm. FREE.
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Fall Fest
September 21
Martin Ave from Hickory Road to Ridge Road, Homewood
Homewood’s favorite fall time festival features live entertainment, craft vendors, a pumpkin patch, children’s crafts, kid-friendly activities, and scrumptious cuisine prepared by local eateries. The event is located on tree-lined Martin Avenue from Hickory Road to Ridge Road. All ages. 12pm to 9pm. Free.
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Huntley Fall Fest
September 27-29
By Diecke Park, 12015 Mill St., Huntley
Fall Fest is a three-day community celebration brought to you by the Huntley Fall Fest Committee, generous business sponsors, civic organizations, and hundreds of volunteers. The 2024 Huntley Fall Fest features THREE DAYS of entertainment, a beer garden, food vendors, a full carnival midway, plenty of fall activities, and a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night! It’s the can’t miss event of the year! All ages. Friday 5-11pm, Sat 10-11pm, Sun 11am-7pm. FREE, fees for some activities.
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St. Al's Oktoberfest
September 27-29
St. Alphonsus Church, 1429 W. Wellington, Chicago
Bring on autumn and pull out the lederhosen! One of Chicago’s most popular celebrations of fall and all things Bavarian — Oktoberfest Chicago at St. Alphonsus — returns for its 21st year of seasonal revelry. It takes place both in and outside the iconic church located in Chicago’s West Lakeview neighborhood. All ages. Friday 5-10pm, Saturday Noon - 10pm, Sunday Noon - 7pm. $10 suggested donation.
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Fall Fest
September 27 - October 27
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago
Dive into the wonderful world of autumn—from picking the perfect pumpkin to taking in the scents of hot cider and toasted s’mores. This year’s Fall Fest features ticketed attractions throughout the zoo, including a Fun Slide, Ferris wheel, inflatable activities, and much more. While you stroll through the decorated gardens bursting with fall color, you’ll enjoy free musical entertainment, professional pumpkin carvers, a pumpkin patch, and fall-themed enrichment for the animals. All ages. 10am - 5pm. FREE with purchased tickets required for some activities..
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Brookfield Zoo Oktoberfest
September 28
Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield
Prost to Oktoberfest and the season of donning your lederhosen and enjoying live polka music. In addition to taking in the sounds of Oktoberfest, a seasonal menu featuring bratwursts, sausages, pretzels with beer cheese, and more is available for purchase. All ages. 11am - 5pm. Regular admission applies.
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Highland Park Oktoberfest
September 28
The Lot, 523 Central Avenue, Highland Park
Celebrate fall and all things German traditional family-friendly activities, dancing, food, live entertainment, and contests. At 5 PM, switch up the vibe with adult-centered fun and a full headlining band. Enjoy polka dancing, a beer stein-holding contest, hammer-schlagen, axe throwing, a high striker, ring-o, corn hole, pretzel necklace making, and more. All ages. 12-10pm. FREE.
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Parkway Bank Park's Family Fall Fest
September 29
Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont
Enjoy a fun-filled day of free outdoor festivities at the entertainment district’s annual “Family Fall Fest.” This year’s activities include bounce houses, balloon sculptors, face painting, pumpkin painting (while supplies last), petting zoo and live entertainment from Jeanie B. and the Jelly Beans.
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Fall Family Festival
September 29 and October 6
Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago, 2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview
Fall Family Festival is back, with some old favorites and some new exciting activities. Get ready for a jam-packed afternoon of animal discovery and fall-themed fun to celebrate the changing of the seasons outdoors. Costumes encouraged but not required – give those trick-or-treat outfits a test run! Limited capacity. Advance reservations required. All ages. 2:30 – 5 PM. $16 members, non-members $28
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Harvest Fest
September 29
Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave., Chicago
At the Chicago Park District's pumpkin patches and harvest fests, you get to pick your personal favorite from a field filled with pumpkins and personalize it at the pumpkin decorating station. Enjoy carnival-themed carnival games, inflatables, music and don't forget to bring a camera to capture a family memory at our harvest photo station. All ages. 10am - 2pm. $10.
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Oktoberfest at Naper Settlement
October 4-6
Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
Traditional German cuisine and beer will be overflowing in a giant heated tent, with lively Oompah music on Friday and a mix of Oompah music, modern polka, pop, R&B, and yacht rock on Saturday. Enjoy one of the largest Oktoberfest beer varieties in the area and German food from local restaurants and food trucks! There will be lawn games for the whole family (Saturday) and a professional pumpkin carver onsite. Guests can test their strength in a stein-holding contest on Saturday from 5-5:30 p.m. All ages. Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 3 - 10pm. $20/Adults | Youth (4-12)/ $15.
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The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest
October 4-6
Downtown Highwood, 111 North Ave., Highwood
This family friendly, fan favorite annual event will offer all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations throughout town, three days of live music from two stages, children’s and pet costume and pumpkin pie eating contests, a variety of food and artisan vendors, full bars, a carnival, hayrides and more. Partnering with Kids Rank, the popular Skeletons on Display will feature the theme of Superhero movies. All ages. See web site for schedule and more details. Free, fees for some activities.
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Northbrook Autumnfest
October 5
Meadowhill Park, 1479 Maple Ave., Northbrook
Enjoy fall-centered activities in Meadowhill Park with your family and friends. Featuring a pumpkin patch, DJ, Entertainment, field games, toasted marshmallows, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and more. All ages. 1-5pm; NEW sensory friendly hour 11:30am-12:30pm (registration required.) FREE.
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Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest
October 5-6
Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Sunnyside, Chicago
Usher in the Fall with the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce's 35th Annual Apple Fest! The festivities will take place on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd from 9am - 6pm. Apple Fest is a long standing tradition in Lincoln Square, bringing community together to celebrate the beginning of autumn. All ages. 9am - 6pm. $5 suggested donation.
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St. Charles Scarecrow Festival
October 11-13
Downtown St. Charles, Rte. 64 at Fox River, St. Charles
110+ handmade scarecrows will be showcased around town for visitors to view and vote on their favorites. There will be a Family Zone with live entertainment and family fun as well as an Activity Zone with festive photo ops, Scarecrow-to-Go and family activities. All ages. Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 10am - 6pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm. FREE.
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Harvest Pow Wow
October 12-13
DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton
Join us for the Annual Midwest SOARRING Foundation Harvest Pow Wow. Bring your friends and family. All are welcome at our family fun event. Our traditional Powwow is a time to celebrate life, renew friendships, and share our Native American culture through dance, drumming, art, and storytelling. All ages. See web site for schedule. Adults: $12; Seniors: $9; Children 3-17: $7; Children under 3: Free
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