Top 10 Things To Do In October 2026

By: Stephanie Wylie 09/25/2026

As October settles over Lake County, the crisp autumn air carries the distinct scent of fallen leaves, toasted barley and just a hint of theatrical fog.

The region transforms into a tapestry of golden hues and cool breezes this month, offering a seasonal playground that spans from quiet, sun-dappled orchards to heart-pounding haunted houses. Whether that means sipping a pumpkin-spiced ale along the Lake County Libation Trail, navigating a sprawling corn maze with the family, or braving the nighttime thrills of Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America, October delivers an autumnal retreat for every speed.

Here are 10 must-do activities to make the most of fall in Lake County:

1. Spooks & Spirits Lake County Autumn Celebration (All October)

Fall is in full swing across the land of lakes, and Lake County's Spooks and Spirits Autumn Celebration is back to make the most of it. All month long, wander through pumpkin patches, get pleasantly lost in a corn maze, brave a haunted attraction and toast the season with a local craft pour. There's something for every thrill level, from little goblins to grown-up ghouls. Plan your visit, browse Halloween events and snag a seasonal travel package at VisitLakeCounty.org/Spooks. Thirsty for more? Take on the Spooks and Spirits Check-In Challenge by checking in at five or more participating Libation Trail stops, and you'll be entered to win a party bus tour for you and your crew. The fun runs through Halloween night, so don't let autumn slip away.

2. Fright Fest presented by Snickers® at six flags Great America (Through Nov. 1) 

When the leaves start to turn, Six Flags Great America trades its summer sunshine for something a little more sinister, and a lot more delicious. Three fall events share the stage this season: Fright Fest presented by Snickers, Kids Boo Fest and the Oktoberfest Food Festival, all running through Nov. 1. Daylight belongs to the little ones. From park opening until 6 p.m., Kids Boo Fest serves up a gentler take on Halloween, with a Trick-or-Treat Trail to collect goodies and for all the fun without the frights, Little Monsters Monday. It's all the fun of the season with none of the nightmares. Once the sun dips below the coasters, the mood shifts. Fright Fest claims the park after dark, unleashing haunted houses and scare zones where something is always waiting just out of sight. Brave visitors should expect to scream, and maybe to run. Whether you're chasing screams, candy or a plate of schnitzel, Six Flags Great America makes a strong case for spending fall in Gurnee.

Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee.

3. 'DRACULA' RADIO SHOW AT IMPROV PLAYHOUSE (Friday and Saturday eveningS from Oct. 16-30)

Long before vampires sparkled or brooded on screen, they crackled through radio speakers, and Improv Playhouse is bringing that eerie tradition back to the stage. The company presents "Bram Stoker's Dracula" as a staged radio drama, drawing on Orson Welles' famed radio adaptation and weaving in material straight from Stoker's 1897 novel. The story follows a familiar and still chilling path. An ancient evil stirs in the mountains of Transylvania and creeps toward the fog-drenched streets of Victorian England, where a handful of ordinary people find themselves as the last line of defense against Count Dracula. Enjoy performances with moody lighting and live sound effects invite audiences to fill in the darkness.

Improv Playhouse Theater, 130 N Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.

4. PUMPKIN PICKING IN LAKE COUNTY (ALL MONTH) 

Few fall traditions beat a trip to the pumpkin patch, and Lake County has plenty to choose from. Scenic farms across the county invite families and friends to hunt for the perfect pumpkin, bump along on a hayride, wind through a corn maze and stock up on fresh-picked produce. Save room for the season's best snacks, too: Warm apple cider doughnuts and pumpkin-flavored drinks make the outing even sweeter.

• Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Dider Farms in Lincolnshire INFO»
• Richardson Adventure Farm & Corn Maze in Spring Grove INFO»
• Tobie Family Farm in Grayslake INFO»
• CLC Farmers Market in Grayslake (through Oct. 29) INFO»
• Elawa Farm Market (through Oct. 31) INFO»
• Deerfield's Farmers Market (through Oct. 24) INFO»
• Grayslake's Farmers Market (through Dec. 13) INFO»
• MainStreet Libertyville Farmers Market (through Oct. 15) INFO»
• Mundelein Farmers Market (through Sept. 19) INFO»
• Ravinia Farmers Market in Highland Park (through Oct. 28) INFO»
• Wauconda Farmers Market (through Oct. 1) INFO»
• Kroll's Farm (through Oct. 31) INFO»

5. SVENGOOLIE AT VOLO MUSEUM (OCT. 31) 

Horror host Svengoolie is rising from the television screen for a special Halloween meet-and-greet at Volo Museum on Saturday, Oct. 31. For decades, the beloved TV personality has paired classic monster movies with corny jokes and campy sketches, winning over generations of horror fans along the way. Guests are encouraged to come in costume and soak up the spooky spirit at the museum, already known for its offbeat collections and pop-culture displays. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 16, with schedule and admission details to be announced.

Volo Museum, 27582 West Volo Village Rd., Volo.

6. FALL PHOTO OPS IN LAKE COUNTY (ALL MONTH) 

Fall paints Lake County in its boldest shades, as the treetops trade summer green for fiery reds, glowing oranges and golden yellows. Grab your camera and head to one of these local parks and forest preserves for the season's most stunning photo backdrops:

• Bowen Park in Waukegan INFO»
• Chain O'Lakes State Park in Antioch/Spring Grove area INFO»
• Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville INFO»
• Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve in Deerfield INFO»
• Century Park in Vernon Hills INFO»
• Illinois Beach State Park in Zion INFO»
• Almond Marsh Forest Preserve in Grayslake INFO»
• Heller Nature Center in Highland Park INFO»
• University of St. Mary's of the Lake in Mundelein INFO»
• Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area (Ryerson Woods) in Riverwoods INFO»
• Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve INFO»
• Hiram Buttrick Sawmill in Antioch INFO»
• Heron Creek Forest Preserve in Lake Zurich INFO»
• Robert McClory Bike Path in North Chicago INFO»
• Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda INFO»
• Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe INFO»

7. FALL FESTIVALS IN LAKE COUNTY (ALL MONTH)

Every fall, Lake County's towns trade their everyday look for something a little more festive. Pumpkins pile up in bright orange towers, goofy skeletons pop up in unexpected places and the scent of cider and cinnamon drifts through downtown streets. Explore all of the festivals across the county this fall:

• Spooks and Spirits Autumn Celebration (October) INFO»
• Jack-O-Lantern World in Lake Zurich (Oct. 1-Nov. 1) INFO»
• Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest (Oct. 1-4) INFO»
• Oktoberfest in Winthrop Harbor (Oct. 1) INFO»
• First Friday on MainStreet Libertyville (Oct. 2) INFO»
• Annual Oktoberfest Celebration at Buffalo Creek Brewing (Oct. 2-4) INFO»
• Realm of Terror Haunted House in Round Lake Beach (Oct. 3-31) INFO»
• Legions of Beer Craft Beer Festival at Gurnee American Legion Post 771 (Oct. 3) INFO»
• Farm Fall Festival for Good at Liberty Prairie Farms (Oct. 3) INFO»
• Prairie State Half Marathon, 10K and Oktoberfest 5K in Historic Downtown Long Grove (Oct. 3) INFO»
• Fall Festival by Grant Township and Village of Fox Lake (Oct. 4) INFO»
• Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden (Oct. 7-25) INFO»
• October Days in Historic Downtown Long Grove (Oct. 8-23) INFO»
• Fall Fest at Brothers' Field in Long Grove (Oct. 10) INFO»
• Stews and Brews at Port Clinton Square (Oct. 10) INFO»
• Grayslake Antique Vintage Market (Oct. 10-11 and Nov. 14-15) INFO»
• MainStreet Libertyville Witches Night Out (Oct. 16) INFO»
• Pumpkin Jubilee in Fox Lake (Oct. 17) INFO»
• Sips and Sweets Sparkling Wine and Chocolate Walk in Grayslake (Oct. 17) INFO»
• ZombieWauk in Waukegan (Oct. 17) INFO»
• Wicked Witches Day Out in Antioch (Oct. 17) INFO»
• Oktoberfest at Gorton Center (Oct. 17) INFO»
• Pet Costume Parade at Brothers' Field in Long Grove (Oct. 18) INFO»
• Grayslake Fall Fest (Oct. 24) INFO»
• Round Lake Harvest Fest (Oct. 24) INFO»
• Fox Lake Halloween Howl (Oct. 26) INFO»
• Costume Party at Brothers' Field in Long Grove (Oct. 30) INFO»
• Lincolnshire Boo Bash (Oct. 30) INFO»
• Season End Halloween Costume Party at Brothers' Field in Long Grove (Oct. 31) INFO»

8. REALM OF TERROR IN ROUND LAKE BEACH (OCT. 3-31)

A post shared by Visit Lake County, Illinois (@visitlakecounty)

For more than two decades, Realm of Terror has been giving thrill-seekers a reason to sleep with the lights on. Billed as the No. 1 haunted house tradition in Illinois, the Round Lake Beach attraction has been frightening guests since 2003. Surviving the haunt is only half the fun. Afterward, guests can refuel with themed eats, from movie-theater popcorn and candy to signature spooky cocktails for adults and alcohol-free sips for younger visitors. Carnival games offer a chance to shake off the nerves, while the killer's camper challenges the brave to find their way out. Before heading home, stop by the gift shop for a souvenir of the night's horrors. The season includes 12 regular haunt nights, with prices varying by date, plus No Actor Night on Oct. 29 for those who want to take in the effects without the jump scares and Family Fright Night on Oct. 24 offering a low-and no-scare experience designed for children. 

Realm of Terror Haunted House, 421 W. Rollins Rd., Round Lake Beach.

9. NIGHT OF 1,000 JACK-O'-LANTERNS AT CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN (OCT. 7-25)

When darkness falls on the Chicago Botanic Garden this October, a winding trail lights up with the flicker of more than a thousand hand-carved faces. Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns returns inviting visitors to stroll a glowing path where every turn reveals another work of gourd-geous art. The carvings range from the spooky to the sentimental. Chicago sports teams, costumed pets, famous vampires and hungry plant monsters share the spotlight with crowd favorites from a decade of past displays. This year's lineup also draws on Halloween films, comic book heroes, dragons, native Illinois wildlife, Día de los Muertos traditions and 150 years of Cubs baseball, along with glowing sea creatures, curious fungi and a few memorable obituaries.

Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. 

10. A Bushel of Apples Fall Fest (OCT. 16-18) 

Fall is ripe for the picking with Phase Three Brewing Co., where the annual Bushel of Apples Fall Fest returns Oct. 16-18. The Lake County Libation Trail partner is turning its Lake Zurich taproom into a weekend-long celebration of the season, complete with good food, live music and a lineup of autumn activities to keep younger guests entertained. The festivities also serve a sweet cause. A portion of the proceeds will support GiGi's Playhouse Deerfield, a nonprofit that provides educational and therapeutic programs for people with Down syndrome, so every sip and bite helps make a difference close to home.

Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich.

Find more things to do in October. Don't forget to check out Lake County's Spooks & Spirits Autumn Celebration. And don't miss the sweet indulgences in Lake County's delicious food and drink offerings.. 

For a truly unique experience, visit one of our local wineries, breweries, or distilleries and sample their sumptuous spirits, vibrant wines and breathtaking brews. There's something for everyone in the land of lakes!