2023 Evanston Trick-Or-Treat Hours, Halloween Events

EVANSTON, IL — With Halloween weekend just around the corner, Evanston residents who need to head to the store for some candy or who have little ones headed out to trick-or-treat are finalizing their preparations.

For those who choose to participate in the holiday on Tuesday, Oct. 31, the city's official trick-or-treat hours run from 4 to 7 p.m. Residents welcoming trick-or-treaters during that time should turn on exterior lights.

For the weekend ahead of All Hallow's Eve, here are some other community events scheduled to be held in Evanston.

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the city's parks department is holding a Trunk or Treat event at the parking lot of the Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St.. Youngsters can check out city vehicles with Halloween costumes at this free event, for which registration is required.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., is hosting the Nightmare on Foster. Attendees are invited to don costumes and expect a "horrifying night" on Foster Street.

On Saturday, children aged 2 and up are invited to the annual Halloween event at the Ecology Center, the Bug-A-Boo. This non-scary Halloween walk will highlight the fauna of the North Shore Channel with costumed characters and will conclude with s'mores, games, dancing and crafts. To register, attendees were asked to either call the center at 847-448-8256 or register online for a time slot.

Also on Saturday, businesses along the Main-Dempster Mile will be accepting trick-or-treaters during business hours. The local business association also is sponsoring a pumpkin carving expo as part of its afternoon Spooky Saturday block party. Carolers are scheduled to run from 11 a.m., with voting on the pumpkin contest opening at 4 p.m., followed costume parades for kids and pets. And in downtown Evanston, businesses will be participating in a trick-or-treat stroll from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.