With temperatures dropping below 70 degrees this week, it feels safe to say that autumn has officially arrived. Alongside the cooler weather and falling leaves, Evanston and Chicago are embracing the season with festive events.
From spooky theater and live concerts to hands-on workshops and artisan markets, fall in Evanston and Chicago offers plenty of opportunities to get in the seasonal spirit. Here’s a list of fall arts events to help you celebrate the season!
Channel your inner ghost writer
Aspiring horror writers can sharpen their scary storytelling skills this Halloween season at “BONE by BONE: The Building Blocks of Horror,” a writing workshop led by author and English Prof. Juan Martinez. Hosted by Bookends & Beginnings on Oct. 28, the event will offer a crash course in the skin-crawling genre and help participants develop new story ideas or make current projects even scarier. Attendees will also receive a copy of “You Like It Darker” by Stephen King to fuel future frightful creativity.
Catch a Halloween flick
As part of its annual Music Box of Horrors movie marathon, Chicago’s iconic Music Box Theatre will screen a curated lineup of cult classics, slashers and supernatural thrillers throughout October. This year’s program also includes a special immersive showing of “The Phantom of the Opera,” accompanied by a live score.
Shop for local fall finds
Shoppers can head to the 3rd Annual Halloween Vintage & Artisan Fest in Ravenswood from Oct. 18 to 19, followed by the Ravenswood Autumn Vintage & Artisan Fest from Nov. 22 to 23. At both festivals, local makers will showcase handmade art, décor and vintage finds. Closer to campus, Northwestern’s Fall 2025 Arts & Crafts Fair on Nov. 14 offers students a chance to support local artists and pick up unique, seasonal gifts.
Attend a spooky symphony
Music lovers can experience Halloween in a whole new light at “Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics” on Oct. 25 at Wicker Park Lutheran Church. The concert features an eerie array of iconic haunted hits from films like “Beetlejuice,” “Ghostbusters” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
(Pumpkin) spice it up with some fall flavors
From pies to pumpkin spice delights, Sur La Table will offer a variety of classes where fall foodies can learn, cook and taste everything the season has to offer. From “All Things Pumpkin” to “Essential Skills for Thanksgiving,” these classes promise a fun and flavorful way to get into the spirit of autumn.
Watch creepy classics come alive on stage
For theatre lovers, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in concert on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in character and join the fun, and the theater will sell bags with props approved to throw at the stage.
Meanwhile, families can head to the Noyes Cultural Arts Center on Oct. 30 for “A Tricky Treat — ‘Click, Clack, BOO!,’” a kid-friendly performance from Tater Tot Theatre Co. bringing barnyard animals and Halloween mischief to life.
Craft an autumn masterpiece
Evanston will offer plenty of opportunities to get creative this fall. The Chandler-Newberger Community Center will host Family Pumpkin Carving on Oct. 25, the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum will hold a Corn Husk Bat Workshop on Oct. 27 and Norris Mini Courses will present Crafting Autumn Magic in Clay this Saturday. Afterwards, your house will most definitely carry an air of autumn inside it.
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