Everything from wandering witches to costumed canines will parade through Historic Downtown Long Grove this month, as the village’s annual October Days celebration returns to 145 Old McHenry Road with a slate of family-friendly events designed to fill storefronts and sidewalks. The goal is as practical as it is festive. “It brings people into town to support our businesses,” said the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association’s Events Manager, Nikki Faul. “They shop, they dine, they explore all that our charming town has to offer. It allows our local merchants to connect with a wider audience and with our community,” she said, according to reporting in the Chicago Tribune.

A month of fall festivities

October Days kicks off with Witches Night Out on Oct. 9 from 5–8 p.m., when shops, restaurants and taverns stay open late and visitors are encouraged to don pointy hats and black attire. Registration isn’t required, but those who sign up may be entered to win gift cards and giveaways, according to the Chicago Tribune. Faul estimates more than 600 attendees. “It is really cool to see our entire town immersed with witches dressed to the nines,” she said. Association Vice President Dave Gayton added: “It’s a nice shopping event for women.”

Families take center stage Oct. 11 with DIY Scarecrow Day & Pumpkin Fest from noon to 4 p.m. For a $10 donation, attendees can reserve a scarecrow-building station at Brothers’ Field. Participants bring clothes and accessories; straw is provided, and finished scarecrows will be displayed around the village all month, organizers said in the Chicago Tribune. Covered Bridge Park will host a pumpkin patch — pumpkins have been donated by The Mulch Center — and a pumpkin carver will be on site.

Throughout the month, a “Guess the Weight” competition will put a giant pumpkin on display. “We have this giant pumpkin we display—one of these giant pumpkins that can weigh up to a thousand pounds,” Gayton said. “Last year’s pumpkin weighed just shy of 600.” Visitors can scan a QR code to guess to the tenth of a pound. “It’s sponsored by the Mulch Center,” Gayton said. “They’re giving away a $1,000 grand prize for whoever guesses the closest to the tenth of a pound.”

The Long Grove Historical Society will lead its fifth Ghost Walk on Oct. 17 from 6–9 p.m., a family-friendly tour featuring tales of the village’s haunted past. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, and reservations are required, the Chicago Tribune reported.

On Oct. 19 at noon, nearly 100 dogs are expected to strut in the Pet Costume Parade, followed by judging for best dressed, most unique and judge’s favorite. “Their costumes are fantastic,” Gayton said, adding, “We are very family-friendly, dog-friendly.” The celebration wraps with Downtown Trick-or-Treating on Oct. 24 from 3–5 p.m., when participating merchants hand out treats to costumed kids, according to the Chicago Tribune.

How the downtown benefits

Faul reported that thousands of people attend October Days overall, a welcome surge in foot traffic for the historic district’s shops and eateries, according to the Chicago Tribune. “It’s community-focused,” said Gayton. “It’s a great way to connect with families that are in our community and surrounding communities.”

The setting is tailor-made for that mission. Long Grove’s historic core is home to roughly 120 businesses, from specialty retailers to restaurants, according to the Village of Long Grove. The village itself is small and affluent — population 8,366 with a median age of 48.8 — a profile that skews toward families and established households, data from Wikipedia shows. Median household income stands at $235,368, with a per-capita income of $101,162 and a notably low poverty rate, according to Census Reporter.

Analysis: Given Long Grove’s demographic profile and downtown retail mix, event-driven foot traffic can provide a near-term lift in merchant sales while introducing new customers to local businesses, according to socioeconomic data from Census Reporter and the business landscape described by the Village of Long Grove. Partnerships like The Mulch Center’s pumpkin donation and sponsorship of the $1,000 Guess-the-Weight prize further extend promotional reach, as highlighted in the Chicago Tribune reporting.

What visitors need to know

  • When and where: Historic Downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road. Headliners include Witches Night Out (Oct. 9, 5–8 p.m.), DIY Scarecrow Day & Pumpkin Fest (Oct. 11, noon–4 p.m.), Ghost Walk (Oct. 17, 6–9 p.m.), Pet Costume Parade (Oct. 19, noon), Downtown Trick-or-Treating (Oct. 24, 3–5 p.m.), according to the Chicago Tribune.
  • Tickets and fees: $10 donation to reserve a scarecrow-building station at Brothers’ Field; Ghost Walk tickets are $10 adults/$5 children (K–8), per the Chicago Tribune.
  • Registration: Witches Night Out registration is optional with eligibility for giveaways at LongGrove.org. Ghost Walk reservations required via the Long Grove Historical Society.
  • Specials and sponsors: The Mulch Center is donating pumpkins and sponsoring the Guess-the-Weight contest with a $1,000 grand prize, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

October Days is as much about place as programming. In a village known for preserving its historic character and small-town feel, merchants lean into fall’s rituals to welcome neighbors and newcomers alike. By month’s end — after the witches disperse, the scarecrows stand sentry and the last trick-or-treater pockets a candy haul — the festival’s impact is measured not just in receipts but in shared experiences. As Faul put it, “Our October Days really brings people together—families, communities, businesses, nonprofits, volunteers—and we really have a lot of fun celebrating the fall season.”