The leaves are rustling and the nights are dark. And if you’re brave of heart, there are plenty of haunted houses and other spooktaculars to provide chills and thrills. Here’s a list of some northwest suburban ghostly adventures.
Haunted Hill: Through the magic of theater and illusion, a guided trail will include witches, monsters and an array of Halloween spookies hidden in the woods. Open to ages 10 and older. Hill Street Park, Hill Street and Rand Road, 1/4 mile northwest of Central and Rand Roads, Mt. Prospect; 708-640-1000. 7-10 p.m. Saturday. $4.
“The Haunted House”: Presented by the Prospect Heights Park District including “lights on” 6-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday ($4). 14 E. Camp McDonald Rd., Prospect Heights; 708-394-2848. Friday through Oct. 30: 7-10 p.m.; $4.
“Nosferatu Deja Vu: The Living Dead Once Again”: A display featuring more than 40 life-size monsters, Jurassic Park Friends, an 8-foot guillotine, a blood fountain, coffins, tombstones, special lighting effects and surprises. 691 W. Kathleen Dr., Des Plaines; 708-439-1350. Friday through Oct. 31; 7-11 p.m. Free.
Old Man Baker’s Haunted Mansion: Enter to be frightened by corpses, a maze of confusion, secret doorways and passages of disorientation and confusion before exiting through the eyes of Old Man Baker. Sponsored by the Salt Creek Park District. “Lights-on” session will be 2-4 p.m. Saturday ($2 for ages 11 and younger). Rose Park, 530 S. Williams Ave., Palatine; 708-259-6890. Through Oct. 30: 6-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6-9 p.m. Oct. 30. $3; $2 with resident identification.
Schaumburg Jaycees’ 17th annual Haunted House: Featuring Granny’s revenge, the electric chair, a mirrored hallway, a coal mine, and Frankenstein. A special no-haunting matinee for ages 12 and younger will be noon-3 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 30 ($1 or a canned good donation). 231 Civic Dr., Schaumburg; 708-980-5130. Through Oct. 31: 7-10 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 30; 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31. $4; $2 ages 12 and younger.
“Spooks for Sparks”: Presented by the McHenry Area Jaycees including 13 rooms of spooks. A Junior Haunted House with “lights on” will be 4-6 p.m. Sunday ($2), and the Kiddie Matinee Trick-or-Treat with friendly characters replacing the monsters will be 1-3 p.m. Oct. 30 ($1). Knox Park Barn, Illinois Highway 31, north of Bull Valley Road, McHenry; 815-363-2206. Wednesday through Oct. 31: 7:30 p.m. $5 ($4 with a canned good donation).
“Spooktacular”: Participants will be entertained by a sorcerer and a magician and then will be “spirited” back to the days of the Inquisition and participate in a medieval trial of witches and other evils (parental discretion advised) at Medieval Times. The trial will be followed by a disc jockey and dancing. Roselle Road and Interstate Highway 90, Schaumburg; 708-843-3900. Wednesday through Oct. 30: 10 p.m.; $10 (dinner-show packages available).
Susperia Mansion: Elk Grove Park District’s 4th annual haunted house, recommended for ages 10 through adult, including 13 ghoulish rooms with live monsters and sound effects. 180 Morrison Blvd., Elk Grove Village; 708-437-8780 (708-437-4220). Through Oct. 31: 7-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31. $4; $3 group sales.
“Terror Under the Bigtop”: The Crystal Lake Jaycees 23rd annual Spookhouse featuring spooks at every twist and turn of the haunted structure. A “lights-on” session featuring friendly ghosts for kids ages 5 to 9 will be noon-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ($3). Flowerwood, U.S. Highway 14 and Illinois Highway 176, Crystal Lake; 815-356-5252. Through Oct. 30: 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Thursday and Oct. 30; 7:30 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday; $5 (a 50-cent discount with a canned food donation, Thursday go through twice for the price of one, $9 for double-dare tickets to go through the maze twice).
Tunnels of Terror: A living nightmare of mannequins and live monsters with laser lighting; outdoor monster photo sessions 7-11 p.m. Kids matinees with “lights on” will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ($2). Berthold Nursery, 434 E. Devon Ave., Elk Grove Village; 708-439-2600. Through Oct. 31: opens 7 p.m. daily. $4.
