Labor Day has come and gone, and fall weather is officially upon us. The mornings are crisper in Chicagoland, and some of us are ready for pumpkin patches and apple picking. Located just west of Chicago’s downtown sits Oak Park. Among Oak Park activities are a great assortment for families and young adults who still want to be near the city. For more events going on in Oak Park than we share here, check out their main event page.
1. Fall Fest
To kick off the fall season, the Oak Park Conservatory hosts Fall Fest for an event that is fun for all ages. Sunday, September 23rd you can head over to the conservatory and Rehm Park area from 11 to 2 p.m. to enjoy a nice afternoon with your kids. All children will receive one free pumpkin to carve while supplies last, or you can even pick your own from the pumpkin patch. Enjoy the horse-drawn hayride or take a ride on the Rehm Trains, which are a long-standing tradition in Oak Park. Additionally, the conservatory will have local food vendors, games, and other activities set up for families to partake in. Find more information on the Facebook event page.
2. Green Halloween
While this event does not have a set date yet, Green Halloween has been a yearly event that takes place in mid-October in Oak Park. In previous years, Green Halloween has been set up in downtown Oak Park along Lake Street. This event encourages families to journey along the “Green Pumpkin Trail” to collect “healthy and eek-o-friendly” Halloween treats at participating local stores. Along the Green Pumpkin Trail, kids can find a pumpkin patch, live music, concession food, face painting, and other activities hosted by shops. Additionally, there is always a free screening of a kid-friendly movie and even some spooky storytelling. Check out last year’s Facebook event for an idea of what’s to come this year, and keep your eye on downtown Oak Park’s October event page. Let’s hope they do this activity again this year!
3. Fright at Night
Another of our favorite Oak Park activities that takes place at the Oak Park Conservatory is the Fright at Night event. Entering its 8th year, visitors are invited on October 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. to venture through the park district’s Botanical Forbidden Forest if they dare. Kids of all ages can walk through the haunted forest for trick-or-treating and other entertaining activities at the conservatory. Admission is $5 and buying tickets in advance is highly recommended because this event tends to sell out. Director of Horticulture, Patti Staley said,
“We don’t like to call it a haunted house, because it’s so much more than that. It’s like a big Halloween party for the community.”
Photo by Clinton Steeds under the Attribution 2.0 Generic license
