Your A-Z Fall in Chicago Guide

September 8, 2025

Fall in Chicago is my favorite season here in the city. I always recommend it to out of towners. The weather has cooled off, the summer crowds are gone, but there is still so much to do! We put together a fun list of things in alphabetical order with events, the best fall activities, fall themed cafes and more!

Apple Picking at All Seasons Orchard

Arts in the Dark parade

Adults Night Out at Lincoln Park Zoo

Andersonville Arts Weekend

B

Brewery Hopping in Ravenswood

Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo

The Brewed in Avondale

Bookstore Crawl in Wicker Park 

C

D

Day of the Dead Celebration at the National Mexican Art Museum 

Donuts and Cider at Stade’s Farm and Market

The DuSable Black History Museum

Decorate pumpkins from a farmer’s market 

E

Eat in a new-to-you neighborhood

Explore Eco-Friendly shops

Escape Exhibit the Museum at Griffin MSI 

Edgebrook Coffee Shop + Diner

F

Fall Fest at LP Zoo

Ferris Bueller Movie Tour at Art Institute

Finding Nemo at Marriott Theatre

Flutter into Fall at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Gethsemane Garden and Gift Shop 

Ghost Tours at LP Zoo

Game Day at your fave sports bar

Goodman Theatre – See Ashland Avenue

H

I

J

Jackson Park Picnic

Jibarito Sandwich at Jibaritos y Más

Jekyll & Hyde by Kokandy Productions at Chopin Theatre 

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

K

L

M

N

Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo

North Park Village trail 

Night of 1000 Jack-o-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic

Nature Night Out at Peggy Notebaert

O

P

Pumpkin Patch

Patios

Picnic at Promontory Point

Ping Tom Memorial Park

Q

Quarter mile strolls on the 606

Quiet stroll along the lakefront

Quick getaway to Galena

Quiet corners at the Newberry Library 

R

Rooftop Yoga at 360 Chicago

Ravenswood Art Walk

Reeling Film Festival 

Rivers and Roads Cafe

S

See a show at the Salt Shed

Sundays on State

Second City

Sip cider at Eris Cidery 

Trick-or-Treating on Southport Date TBD

Take a local brewery tour (like Barrel Bus)

Teatro Zinzanni

Thanksgiving Day Parade 

U

Upick Sunflowers or Pumpkins

University of Chicago stroll

Uptown exploring 

Understudy Coffee

V

Volunteer 

Visit Vintage Shops

Vinyl Record Store

Vegan tacos at Bloom

W

Walking Tour like Underground Donut Tour

Water Taxi to Chinatown

Walk Through Welles Park

West Loop Music and Art Fest 

X

XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant

XOCO Happy Hour 

Xurro

El Xangarrioto Mex Restaurant

Y

Yard Games at Park and Field

Yoga in the park

Yoko Ono’s Skylanding in the Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park

Yarn shops like Bloomin’ Spindle

Z

Zoo After Dark: Boos & Brews at Brookfield

Z Bar for views 

Zazas Pizzeria

Zanies Comedy Night Club

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