Weekend highlights: festivals, frights and family outings

Halloween weekend gives way to a full slate of close-to-home options for Barrington-area families — from West Dundee’s pumpkin-lined paths to Gurnee’s final scares of the season — with more culture and comedy queued up midweek.

The headline draw is the Randall Oaks Fall Festival, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Expect pedal tractors, pumpkins and fall treats; on weekends, hayrides run $3 and animal shows begin at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $6, with free entry for children 1 and younger and for U.S. military with ID, according to Dundee Township Park District.

For one more dose of Halloween, Brookfield Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, touting a family-friendly format with festive décor and not-so-scary thrills included with zoo admission, as reported by Brookfield Zoo.

This is also the last chance to catch Six Flags Great America’s Fright Fest in Gurnee: 5–11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31; 11 a.m.–midnight Saturday, Nov. 1; and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. The park bills “thrills by day and frights by night,” with haunted houses, scare zones, shows, rides and a kids’ Boo Fest; tickets start at $45, according to Six Flags Great America.

Week-at-a-glance: Oct. 31–Nov. 6

A sampling of confirmed times, prices and locations for the most in-demand picks, drawn from the local listings, according to the Barrington Hills Observer:

  • The Other Art Fair (Chicago’s Artifact Events): Friday, Oct. 31, 5–10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. More than 115 independent artists, plus artist-designed mini golf and a “Halloween Edition” Friday night. Tickets are $25 Friday and $18 Saturday/Sunday; a higher-priced opening option was also available earlier in the run.
  • Jack O’Lantern World (Lake Zurich’s Paulus Park and The Forge, Lemont): Evening time slots this weekend, with thousands of pumpkins in large-scale displays, food trucks and a beer garden. Tickets range from $17.99–$27.99.
  • Sneaker Con Chicago (Schaumburg Convention Center): Saturday, Nov. 1, noon–7 p.m. Buy, sell and trade sought-after footwear; admission $28.19.
  • Day of the Dead 5K (Round Lake): Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. USATF-certified course; $35 registration includes shirt, bib and a virtual goody bag.
  • Dinovember (Randall Oaks Zoo): Daily Nov. 3–30, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. Dino-keeper Chat and a Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt; $6 admission (free for ages 1 and under and U.S. military with ID).
  • 312 Comedy Festival (citywide in Chicago): Nov. 4–9, with performances by Fortune Feimster, Pete Holmes, Dusty Slay, Earthquake, Jared Freid, Patrick Warburton and more, according to AmericanTowns and the 312 Comedy Festival.
  • Alex Ross — Heroes & Villains (Bess Bower Dunn Museum, Libertyville): On view through Feb. 16, 2026 — a large-scale showcase of the legendary comics illustrator, according to Bess Bower Dunn Museum. The Observer notes museum admission of $3–$10 and exhibit tickets of $5–$10.
  • Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience (YMCA Camp Duncan, Ingleside): Time slots start at 4:30 p.m., Thursdays–Sundays through Nov. 30. The illuminated woodland trail ends at a themed village with food, drink and a shop; tickets start at $31 for kids and $46 for adults, per Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience.

Families looking for one more neighborhood-style celebration will also find trick-or-treating and community events in the wider region, with details compiled by the Barrington Hills Observer.

Why this slate matters here

Barrington Hills is a small, dispersed village of about 4,114 residents across roughly 29 square miles, with a median age of 50.2 and a median household income of $157,414, according to Wikipedia. The area’s identity leans heavily toward the outdoors — more than 4,700 acres of nearby forest preserve support biking, hiking and equestrian life — and toward civic generosity, a tradition the Village highlights in its community profile, according to the Village of Barrington Hills.

Seasonal festivals and regional draws tend to ripple through the local economy. While comprehensive, town-specific revenue tallies aren’t available, community and public-administration materials note that events typically boost small-business sales, create short-term jobs and reinforce a community’s profile — often dovetailing with philanthropy and volunteerism — according to a village planning document summarized by GovHR USA. That dynamic helps explain the robust mix of family fare (Randall Oaks, Boo at the Zoo) and adult-leaning options (Fright Fest, The Other Art Fair, stand-up) clustered around Halloween week.

Price points this week range from free neighborhood gatherings to mid-tier tickets: Jack O’Lantern World at $17.99–$27.99, Fright Fest starting at $45, and museum-and-exhibit combinations typically under $20 per person — a spread that lets multi-generational households pick and choose, according to the Barrington Hills Observer and Six Flags Great America.

Planning and practicalities

A few quick tips for families and visitors, drawing on planning guidance from local event listings and community resources, according to the Barrington Hills Observer:

  • Match the event to your group: Randall Oaks and Boo at the Zoo skew younger; Fright Fest and Rocky Horror are best for older teens/adults.
  • Secure tickets early for high-demand time slots (Fright Fest, Jack O’Lantern World, The Other Art Fair) to avoid sellouts and lines.
  • Budget smartly: Mix free community stops with one ticketed anchor event; some vendors may be cash-only.
  • Check schedules closely: Daytime for kid-centric programming; evenings for haunted attractions and concerts.
  • Plan parking and arrivals: Aim early for park events; follow venue signage at larger sites like Schaumburg Convention Center.
  • Dress for the weather: Layers help for evening outdoor trails and stargazing.
  • Ask about accessibility: Confirm stroller/ADA routes or sensory-friendly options in advance.
  • Set a meet-up plan and note first-aid locations at larger venues.

Looking ahead

As pumpkins give way to punchlines, the 312 Comedy Festival’s Nov. 4–9 run offers a citywide breather from the cobwebs, with a lineup that mixes household names and emerging acts, according to AmericanTowns and the 312 Comedy Festival. Meanwhile, Dinovember at Randall Oaks keeps kids learning long past the candy haul, and the Alex Ross exhibition provides a winter-long cultural anchor, according to the Barrington Hills Observer and Bess Bower Dunn Museum.

Taken together, it’s a week that mirrors Barrington Hills’ blend of family priorities, outdoor sensibility and civic spirit — a reminder that even as the season turns, there’s plenty to do within a short drive, and just as many ways to support the region’s cultural and small-business life.