Halloween Happening

Witches, vampires, princesses and cartoon characters are just some of the visitors you’ll see invade Daley Plaza as costumed children celebrate Halloween for three full days of free fun during Franken Plaza, presented by safety sponsor, UL.

Franken Plaza offers plenty of free entertainment, trick or treat candy, arts & crafts, storytelling and more, including a kids costume contest with special prizes.

For more than a decade Chicago’s Midnight Circus has been entertaining crowds at Daley Plaza for Halloween. This year Midnight Circus performs an all new, gravity defying show that features heart-stopping feats of otherworldy acrobatics and wickedly wonderful theatrics. with plenty of tricks to treat both young and old.

Friday at Franken Plaza also includes a pumpkin carving demonstration from Steve Dahlke at 2:30 pm, a Harvest Market featuring fall produce from 7 am-3 pm and at 5:50 pm,, the after-work crowd can enjoy a screening of the classic film “Beetlejuice”, followed by the day’s last performance of Midnight Circus.

On Saturday, Franken Plaza hosts the Monster Bash, when kids in costume have the chance to compete for prizes. The costume contest is open to children ages 12 and under. All contestants will line up beginning at 11:30 am to showcase their costumes across the stage at 12:15 pm.

In addition to the costume contest and costume showcase on the main stage, other Saturday activities include arts & crafts, Trick or Treating and the Batbuck$ Game Show at both 2:20 pm and 6:30 pm, giving youngsters the chance to try their luck at Halloween themed games.

Storyteller Oba King provides a frighteningly good time with Not So Scary, Scary Stories on Saturday and Sunday at 3p.m.