Things To Do This Weekend October 16-18, 2020
By: Jonathan Jones 10/15/2020
The spooks and spirits are dead and unwell in this edition of things to do this weekend October 16-18.
Halloween is near and we can taste the feels. Here are a few pieces of light reading you should look into if you’re looking to set the spooktacular mood this October 31.
- Autumn FTW: Lake County's Fall Fab Five INFO»
- Trick or Treat Hours 2020 in Lake County INFO»
- Where to Pumpkin Pick in Lake County INFO»
- Fall Farm Fun in Lake County INFO»
Snap an autumn gram, Get zesty with zazzy zombies, scream at Sydney Prescott's favorite scary movie, sip and saunter on a distillery tour and listen to a spooky spiel over Zoom in with these top five things to do this weekend October 16-18.
“Alright, Mr. or Mrs. Shutterbug, the land of lakes is ready for its close-up.” Visit Lake County invites you to submit your phenomenal pictures in the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest. There is an abundance of beautiful, scenic, historical, adventurous, heritage, character and just downright “#InstaGood” shots of Lake County. Visit Lake County would like to showcase where you live, work, eat, play or shop by sharing your best pictures of the county. VLC will accept submissions for five categories: Outdoors, Family/People, Masked, Dining/Libations and Other Travel Culture. There will be a grand prize winner, as well as five other category winners. Individuals may submit up to five photos. Winners of the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest will win an exclusive prize and photo credit in future tourism marketing materials. The contest will reveal winners in multiple categories. Participants can submit entries through October 31 at visitlakecounty.org/lets-snap-lake-county-photo-contest or post via Instagram with the #LetsSnapLakeCounty.
Friday-Sunday, October 17-19; Various locations around Lake County.
Every third Saturday of the year, you get a touch of culture with the different mediums you see from ArtWauk. However, downtown Waukegan is transformed into Halloween town as ArtWauk runs alongside its annual ZombieWauk. The event will feature live entertainment, suds and eats vendors, face painters and flesh-eating abominations clutter the streets as they attempt to hunt you down. Beware of the walking dead. Waukegan Park District’s ArtPark will supply the musical performances. Dandelion Gallery showcases batik artist Michael McConville. Because of the global pandemic, this year is DIY with galleries, venues and businesses doing it for themselves. Visit Waukegan Main Street if you dare.
Saturday, October 17; 5-9 p.m. Free admission. Downtown Waukegan.
“Do you like scary movies, Sydney?” To complement the legendary Dungeon of Doom Haunted House, and to embody social-distancing best practices, the Zion facility features a drive-in movie experience. In the haunted house’s parking lot, an enormous screen will be playing well-known horror flicks for your pleasure entitled the Scare Vision Theater. You can get a package deal with the movie and haunted house, or you can just see the sinister screenplay. The showcase is an additional perk to the Zion house of haunts, and it encourages six-feet distancing. Dungeon of Doom also introduces a pit stop food trailer for movie watchers. If you thought you were on the edge of your seat during the film, a “killer crew” will roam the lot to frighten you if the horror cinema isn’t doing the trick. The haunted house and drive-in movies run through October 31. Happy Hauntings!
Friday-Sunday, October 16-18; 7-9 p.m., 9:30-11:30 p.m. and 11:55 p.m.-1:55 a.m. Admission: $15-$45 per ticket. Dungeon of Doom Haunted House, 600 29th St., Zion.
North Shore Distillery is the first craft distillery in the Land of Lincoln. Since 2004, Derek and Sonja Kassebaum (and their larger than life friend Ethel) provide vodkas, rums, gins, absinthes and unique seasonal beverages. The self-proclaimed nerds and Illinois-Made inventors love to experiment on new flavors with a plethora of different ingredients, and that’s why the award-winning Green Oaks Distillery designs innovative art with their liquid creations. The Lake County Libation Trail participant creates an adventure with their cocktail and distillery tour. Offered through Illinois School District 128, visitors will learn the basics of distilling and spirits, manufacturing, the distillery’s history, recipes and history of Lake County’s libation scene conducted by Sonja Kassebaum. The tuition is $30.
Sunday, October 18; 4-5:30 p.m. Tuition: $30. North Shore Distillery, 13990 Rockland Rd., Green Oaks.
Ghastly goblins haunt the trails of Volo Bog this weekend at the quaking bog’s Ghost Stories Plus event. This year’s version of the annual event will be virtual. Reporting live from the Ingleside bog’s center will be Jim May and the Friends of Volo Bog via Zoom. From 7-7:45, youngsters will attend the ghost, ghoulies and pajamas stories. From 8-9 p.m., teens and adults will stay for the spookier tales. Pour yourself a glass of hot cocoa, turn out the lights and surround the computer for scary stories. After a night of spooky stories, head to the state natural area in person as they host their pumpkin carving in the haunted picnic area of the bog. The picnic tables are safely-spaced to COVID-19 protocols. Masks are required. Volunteers will be on hand to help individuals carve a simple jack or an intricate work of art. If you don’t have tools from home, Volo Bog State Natural Area will have carving utensils to provide you. The Sunday pumpkin event is open to carvers ages four and older. Registration is required. Interested pumpkin face makers can call to sign up at 815=344-1294.
Saturday-Sunday, October 17-18; Virtual Ghost Stories: 7-9 p.m., Pumpkin Carving: 1-3 p.m. Pumpkin event: $8 per pumpkin. Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 Brandenburg Rd., Ingleside.
For more things to do this weekend October 16-18, click here.
