Halloween

Chicago Costume is a local, two-shop operation that's sold costumes year-round since 1976. When a Spirit Halloween billboard went up in front of the Portage Park shop, it irked workers — and locals.

The Andersonville chamber will also bring back its socially distanced Halloween on Catalpa event, which debuted last year.

Paper goods from the '20s, greeting cards from the '50s — Chicagoans are turning to retro Halloween decorations and using them as-is or repurposing them to celebrate the holiday, collectors said.

Submit a photo of your jack-o'-lantern by Tuesday to enter our raffle. Your pumpkin could be highlighted in a Block Club newsletter!

Composting your pumpkins is better for the environment than trashing them — and there are events around the city where you can smash them for compost.

Local businesses will host Halloween-themed events throughout October and keep their doors open on Halloween for trick-or-treaters.

Unvaccinated kids should wear masks while trick-or-treating, and people shouldn't give out candy if they feel sick, according to the city.

Roseland Community Hospital and local partners have events lined up from October to December to support local families.

The spooky holiday was largely quiet last year due to the pandemic, but Chicago officials are planning events to bring it back.

The Halloween-themed Lincoln Avenue Beer Stroll and Trick-or-Treat on Southport events are returning next month after being canceled due to the pandemic.

Parades and trunk-or-treat events are planned to help families celebrate.

Ten neighborhood businesses near the Howard Red Line station will give candy to kids on Halloween.

Writer Kate Sample hopes her Halloween decorations will bring cheer to neighbors during a challenging 2020. People have loved the display so much they've added their own Harry Potter trinkets, she said.

Volunteers will enforce mask-wearing and make sure trick-or-treat traffic moves in one direction.

The winner of the most inventive socially distanced trick-or-treating system will win five pints of ice cream.

A winter storm last year ended Hyde Park's streak of chaotic Halloweens. Residents hope for another relatively calm holiday this year, with most Halloween programs affected or canceled by the pandemic.

The event on Catalpa Avenue will be a "grab-and-go experience," according to the local chamber of commerce.

There will be no parade, but there are still options for families, kids and pets to celebrate Halloween in the neighborhood.

Event organizers will admit 20 families every 15 minutes. Timed tickets can be purchased online.

A pandemic-friendly haunted house will be held Thursday-Saturday in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5200 S. University Ave.