22 Fall Activities in Chicago: Fall Colors, Food & Attractions (2024)

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Spooky tours, fall colors, and seasonal events, there are so many fall activities in Chicago for visitors and locals to enjoy.

This guide reveals how to spend shorter days in the Windy City, featuring ghost tours, nature walks for leaf peeping, and festivals that only occur during the fall months.

We’ve also included autumn activities close to Chicago, so if you’re local and have done everything in the city, you can still learn a few new tips for this fall to keep the family entertained!

You may also like our 3-Day Chicago itinerary and Christmas in Chicago guide.

Best Fall Things to Do in Chicago

Take a Ghost Tour

Get familiar with the ghosts and spirits in the area!

You’ll need a local guide to introduce you to the popular ghosts and haunted buildings; luckily, we can recommend a few amazing tours in Chicago.

TheGangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour is a 2-hour trip around the Loop District at the center of downtown Chicago.

ThisWind and Souls Adults Only Ghost Touris a truly frightening walking tour of some of the most chilling sites and stories from Chicago’s past.

The most intriguing ghosts and gangsters from the darkest parts of Chicago’s history will appear in any of these iconic tours.

Stroll Through the (Spooky) Rosehill Cemetery

For the ultimate spooky fall scenery experience, visitRosehill Cemetery(5800 N Ravenswood Ave) and wander among the historic grounds of the largest cemetery in Chicago.

Rosehill is known for its elegant architecture, ornate marble monuments and sculptures, and rolling hills; it was featured in.

This place has so much dark history and is so important that you must pay it a visit in the fall.

While this is an off-the-beaten-path fall activity, there are many other unique things to do in Chicago.

Open House Chicago

Every fall, theChicago Architecture Center(111 E Wacker St) hostsOpen House Chicago, a free public event that allows anybody to take a self-guided architecture tour through the most iconic buildings in the city.

It’s a perfect thing to do in Chicago in the fall for architecture enthusiasts because you have some of the best access to the inner workings of the most significant sites in the area.

Take an adventure through architecture and history trails, take advantage of talks and programming by experts, and get incredible behind-the-scenes access to amazing buildings.

Do you still want more architectural goodness?

Check out this2.5-hour architecture boat tourfor an exciting overview of the best architecture along the Chicago River!

You may also like our guide to unique things to do in Chicago.

Check Out the City’s Skyline at Night

As gorgeous and breathtaking as the city can be during the day, one of the best activities in Chicago in the fall is riding downtown at night when sunset occurs a little earlier than in summer.

Bundle up and climb aboard theBig Bus Open-Top Panoramic Night Tour.

You’ll travel from the iconicMagnificent Miledown Michigan Ave, with a tour guide explaining every beautiful sight.

There’s almost nothing like watching theBuckingham Fountain’s impressive spray at night.

You’ll also see the spectacularChicago Theatre(175 North St) lit up just like it was during its glory days, one of the more historic yet fun things to do in October in Chicago.

Explore the Downtown Area

While the busiest time of year for the city is definitely the spring and summer, you can still check out the historic downtown area in the fall.

One of the best ways to learn how to get around the city is to follow a local around their favorite spots.

TheHistory, Culture, and Architecture Walking Touris a foolproof way to get around and see the sights in autumn in Chicago.

Art Institute of Chicago

Want a little behind-the-scenes look at theArt Institute of Chicago(111 S Michigan Ave) without the lines and crowds?

You can enter the museum 30 minutes before it opens and take aGuided Tour Led by an Art Expert.

Check out the events schedule for seasonal sessions this autumn.

Fall in Love With Chicago’s Food Scene

Did you know that there are over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in the city?

It is known for its amazing food and was even voted the Best Restaurant City of the Year in 2017, and its restaurants, like Alinea, continue to win awards every year.

Get a taste of Chicago in the fall with three of the best food tours in the city, exploring traditional and seasonal produce.

TheChicago Food Tour: 2.5 Hour Guided Walking Tourwill allow you to sample all the classic fare while being led around the city by an expert guide.

TheTaste of Chinatown Food Walking Tourwill take you through the most exciting Asian cultures and food inspirations you can find in the city.

Finally, theChicago Underground Donut Tourwill take you to four donut shops around the city to give you a taste of all the most delicious treats the city offers.

No matter which tour you choose, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting an authentic taste of the best of the city’s food.

Corn Mazes In Chicago

Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up (1267 W Le Moyne St) and Konow’s Corn Maze (16849 S Cedar Rd, Homer Glen) have autumn corn maze activities.

Pumpkin Patches In Chicago

Head to J4K Pumpkins (3539 E 95th St).

It’s a fun day out for pumpkin picking and inflatables!

Running throughout October, big kids and wee ones are welcome.

Visit Farmers’ Markets Across the City

Did you know there are 49 farmers’ markets across Chicago?

One of the most fun fall activities in Chicago is to check out all theamazing markets across the city.

Almost all the markets go through September, and many are ongoing for most of October.

Some even go into November for all the late-fall visitors.

Stock up on fall vegetables, dried flowers and garlic, and speciality items like honey, granola, and more.

Check out the city’s markets, such as The Lincoln Park Farmers Market; the perfect spot for a fall date day, too?

Fall Events Chicago

Pier Pumpkin Lights, Navy Pier

You won’t want to missPier Pumpkin Lights on Navy Pier(600 E Grand Ave), a fantastic display of Halloween spirit in the fall in Chicago.

Wander among almost 1,000 jack-o-lanterns throughout October.

Throughout the month, you’ll experience pumpkin-themed pop-ups, pier-specific deals and sales, and general Halloween-themed festivities.

Check out their websitecloser to October for more details!

Chicago Food Truck Fall Festival

Food trucks are a staple in the Chicago food scene.

One of the best ways to appreciate the city’s variety and abundance of food truck options is to check out theChicago Food Truck Fall Festival(LaBagh Woods).

Every fall, the Food Truck Festival brings together all the corners of the globe to serve you classic and unique dishes straight from the trucks’ windows.

You won’t want to miss this incredible taste experience and thing to do in Chicago during fall.

Oktoberfest

If you love German beer, food, and culture (or are curious to learn more), check outChicago Oktoberfest(Lincoln Square)!

Oktoberfest usually occurs in mid-September, but check the website for any date changes or updates.

Submerge yourself in German culture under two hospitality tents all weekend long; sip on beer, taste unique food, and listen to live bands playing through the day and night.

Check out our guide to the best Oktoberfests in the US.

Where to See Fall Colors in Chicago

Did you know theChicago Park District manages almost 9,000 acres of green space, making it the largest municipal park manager in the nation?

If you’re hoping to enjoy the fall colors in Chicago, you’ll be able to see them at every corner!

Plus, there is a public park in every neighborhood throughout the city, so no matter where you are in Chicago, you can stroll through incredible changing leaves throughout the fall season.

Check out theIllinois Fall Color Reportfor a day-by-day update on the best fall colors in Chicago.

Check out our comprehensive guide for even more free things to do in Chicago!

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is a community area on the North Side that features the city’s largest park, Lincoln Park.

During fall, the leaves change with the skyline in the background.

It has 1,188.62 acres that can be explored on foot, and some of the park is located by the lakefront.

The park has several Chicago attractions, including the Chicago History Museum,the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, and the North Pond Nature Sanctuary.

Grant Park

The famous Buckingham Fountain is located at the center of Gran Park and has enjoyed this pride of place since the 1920s.

During fall, the fountain pops against the orange trees of the park.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Visit Chicago’s “landscape art under glass” at the Garfield Park Conservatory(300 N Central Park Ave) during fall to see the trees change in one of the largest botanical conservatories in the US.

You can easily spend half a day here with 184 acres to explore, including a swimming pool, fishing lagoon, athletic fields, and tennis courts.

Humboldt Park

Humboldt Park (1400 North Sacramento Ave) is located on the city’s west side and boasts 207 acres.

The park was named after the German naturalist and botanist Alexander von Humboldt.

It is also home to the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

You can learn more about the park during this free audio tour.

Fall Activities Near Chicago

Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns, Glencoe

Ready to head out of the city to enjoy the fall weather?

The Chicago Botanical Garden (1000 Lake Cook Rd) hosts a Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns every year in October over the weekends.

Just a 20-minute drive from the city, the Garden boasts an incredible collection of 1,000 hand-carved pumpkins, some weighing up to 150 pounds!

Wander around the paved path, enjoy light fare and drinks, and greet the costumed professionals there to entertain the kids.

Check the websitebefore you visit for updates, parking passes, and official event dates.

Apple Picking Near Chicago

Why not visit a nearby farm for fall activities near Chicago?

Work for your food at Heinz Orchard (1050 Crest Rd, Libertyville).

This family-run orchard invites visitors to pick apple varieties, including Empire, McIntosh, and Jonathan.

Walk or Bike Along the Illinois Prairie Path, DuPage County

If you’re wondering where to find fall colors near Chicago, look no further than the Illinois Prairie Path.

Prairie ecosystems are in danger from urban and suburban development, but the Illinois Prairie Path has set out to protect them and help grow a deep appreciation for them.

One big bonus: you enjoy these incredible landscapes, which are just a 40-minute drive west of the city.

Walk or bike through the area and enjoy the incredible fall colors while they last!

Take a Fall Camping Trip, South Holland

Some of the best, quietest camping takes place in the fall.

If you don’t mind the cooler weather and are ready to avoid the summer camping crowds, take a 40-minute drive south to South Holland to stay at Camp Shabbona Woods (15810 S Torrance Ave).

Part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, you can enjoy protected outdoor spaces while staying in a cabin or your tent.

Enjoy the fall colors and the beauty of nature, all while staying close to Chicago.

Crabtree Nature Preserve in Illinois

Crabtree (3 Stover Rd, Barrington Hills) is a nature preserve on 112 acres of woodlands and wetlands.

It is open all year round but boasts of fall colors in autumn.