The busy season is over for Chicago tourism, but the slow season hasn’t yet begun. During shoulder season, you are much more likely to find cheap, last-minute flights to Chicago, while still being able to take advantage of acceptable weather. Temperatures will be a bit chilly, but nowhere near as bad as the deep freeze of winter. If you’re interested in taking an impromptu vacation to the Windy City, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here is our guide to the best activities to do in Chicago in October.
October Events
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October in Chicago is a great time for public events as they host some of the most famous events in the world. The second Sunday of the month is when the Chicago Marathon takes place. Even if you don’t enter the marathon, it can be a lot of fun spectating and enjoying the lively atmosphere. From the 15th to the 26th, the Chicago International Film Festival will be taking place, screening over 100 films from filmmakers from around the world. On the 18th and 19th, Chicago opens its doors for an event called Open House Chicago where buildings not usually open to the public let people in to marvel at the historical architecture.
Sports fans have plenty of reasons to visit Chicago too, with a few teams playing during this time. The Bears will be playing Football at Soldier Field on October 19th. The Blackhawks will be playing several games at United Center. And the Bulls start their season with multiple preseason games, also at United Center.
Autumn Outdoors
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The weather during this time will be brisk, but not too cold that you can’t enjoy the outdoors, and the changing of the leaves will be in full swing. There are plenty of places to enjoy the autumn colors, such as Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, The 606 trail, Lincoln Park, Jackson Park, and the University of Chicago campus. Walk along the Riverwalk on the South bank of the Chicago river or take a stroll through Millenium Park, if you want a more urban setting.
Other good outdoors activities include architecture river boat tours that explore the iconic buildings of Chicago, both new and old. Apple orchards and pumpkin patches will be open as well, providing a good chance to engage with locals and grab a nice hot cup of cider.
Halloween Events
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October is spooky season in the States, and Chicago has plenty of ways to celebrate. From the 8th to the 26th, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns is held at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Here they will have over 1,000 professionally carved pumpkins lit up for visitors to marvel at. Navy Pier hosts a similar event all month called Pier Pumpkin Lights, which is free to attend and will host family-friendly activities. Lincoln Park Zoo hosts a Fall Fest on the weekends, and Brookfield Zoo puts on Boo! at the Zoo starting October 4th.
If you really want things to get spooky, check out the haunted houses, like 13th Floor at Schiller Park, Hellsgate in Lockport, and Basement of the Dead in Aurora. Or take a Ghost Tour, either walking or by bus. Gangsters and Ghosts explores Chicago’s gang history and the ghost stories that it led to, while The Original Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour lets you explore some of the most haunted places in Chicago.
Arts and Culture
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Chicago is renowned for its culture and history, with several famous museums and theaters. The Art Institute is one of the oldest and largest museums in the US and contains over 300,000 pieces. The Field Museum is a natural history museum that attracts more than 2 million people each year. The Museum of Science & Industry focuses on technology and houses everything from a captured German submarine from World War 2, to the command module of the Apollo 8 spacecraft.
For entertainment, Chicago has plenty of performance venues as well. Broadway In Chicago will be featuring The Lion King and The Book of Mormon in October. The Second City puts on improvisational comedy shows and has been a launching pad for many famous comedians. And the Steppenwolf Theatre puts on dramatic productions and other special events.
