Halloween 2013 in Chicago

Not all scholars agree on the origin of Halloween. Many believe the holiday started as a Christian feast that was influenced heavily by European harvest festivals, while others assert that All Hallows’ Eve started as a pagan ritual celebrating the dead. Regardless, Halloween has blended cultural and literary symbols like ghosts, monsters, scarecrows, and pumpkins to create a unique celebration.

Today, millions of people both young and old don costumes and head out to festive parties in their respective cities. This year, there’s no better American city to celebrate in than Chicago.

Halloween in Chicago 2013 features a slew of scary Halloween events including the Spooky Zoo Spectacular at Lincoln Park Zoo. There, families can enjoy live entertainment, arts and crafts, trick-or-treating, and various educational activities.

Ghouls and gals looking for a Monster Mash-ish Halloween party head to the North Halsted Street Halloween Parade, where freaks and geeks of all sorts saunter by in eerie, lost spirit fashion. After the parade, adventurous and disguised denizens hop into one of the many Halloween bars in Boystown, like Jacqueline’s Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club.

Whether it’s at Navy Pier, Lakeview, or The Loop, Chicago boasts an eclectic, spooky smorgasbord of Halloween celebrations. No matter what school of scholarly thought you prescribe to regarding All Hallows’ Eve history, there’s no denying that the Windy City is one of the most horrifying haunts come Halloween.