Chicago — week of Thursday, October 15, 2026

Friday and Saturday, Oct 23 and 24, Lincoln Park Zoo turns 21-and-over after dark for Zoo Brews: beer and cider stations across the grounds and a costume contest, 6:30 to 10.

Everything happening 15

Thursday, Oct 15

62nd Chicago International Film Festival her thing ✓ Through Sun Oct 25 · Ticketed per screening The festival's final stretch, with screenings at AMC NEWCITY 14, the Music Box, the Gene Siskel Film Center and UChicago's Logan Center.via Choose Chicago
Don Giovanni at the Lyric Opera House her thing ✓ Through Sun Nov 1; Sun Oct 18 matinee at 2 PM · From $45 Lyric's season-opening Mozart. The Sunday, Oct 18 matinee carries live ASL interpretation.via Lyric Opera of Chicago / Chicago Sun-Times
Festival del Arte Popular at the National Museum of Mexican Art her thing ✓ Through Sun Oct 18 · Free admission; crafts for sale Final days: folk artists from Mexico demonstrate and sell their work at 1852 W 19th St in Pilsen.via National Museum of Mexican Art
Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up on Le Moyne Street her thing ✓ Daily timed sessions through early November · Timed-entry tickets online; cashless Pumpkins, a corn maze, axe throwing and cocktails at 1265 W Le Moyne St. Weekday sessions start late afternoon; weekends from late morning.via Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up (Ticketsauce)
Never Trust the Living Halloween pop-up at The Dandy Crown her thing ✓ Through Sun Nov 1 · Drink prices not posted The fourth annual Halloween-themed pop-up bar returns to The Dandy Crown in River West.via The Dandy Crown (press release)

Friday, Oct 16

Mike D at the Riviera Theatre her thing ✓ Fri Oct 16 · Ticketed The Beastie Boys' Mike D on tour, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave in Uptown.via Choose Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest her thing ✓ Fridays–Sundays through Nov 1 · Free entry The zoo's free fall festival at 2001 N Clark St, Fridays through Sundays. Built for families; open to everyone.via Choose Chicago / Lincoln Park Zoo

Saturday, Oct 17

Open House Chicago, citywide her thing ✓ Sat Oct 17 & Sun Oct 18; hours vary by site · Free; no reservations More than 200 buildings in 30 neighborhoods open their doors, 20 of them new this year. Check each site's hours in the directory.via Chicago Architecture Center / WTTW / Chicago Sun-Times
Riverwalk Fall Fest at Island Party Hut her thing ✓ Saturdays, noon–8 PM (in this window: Oct 17 and Oct 24) · Ticketed River hayrides, a pumpkin patch, live music and fall drinks on the Riverwalk between Columbus Dr and Lake Shore Dr. Saturdays only.via Island Party Hut / Eventbrite
Sweetest Day Comedy Jam at Wintrust Arena her thing ✓ Sat Oct 17, 8 PM · Ticketed Cedric the Entertainer, Earthquake and Bruce Bruce at Wintrust Arena, 200 E Cermak Rd, next to McCormick Place.via Choose Chicago
Serial Killer: The Exhibition at Cinespace her thing ✓ Through Jan 24, 2027 · Ticketed A true-crime exhibition in its Chicago debut run at Cinespace Film Studios Chicago.via Choose Chicago

Sunday, Oct 18

Chicago Artisan Market at Morgan MFG her thing ✓ Sun Oct 18, 11 AM–5 PM · $8 in advance Local makers, food and goods at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N Morgan St in Fulton Market.via Choose Chicago
Logan Square Farmers Market her thing ✓ Sundays, 8:30 AM–3 PM (in this window: Oct 18 and 25) · Free to browse On Milwaukee Ave near Logan Blvd.via WBEZ

Thursday, Oct 22

Best of Chicago Comedy at the Foundation Room, House of Blues her thing ✓ Thu Oct 22 · Ticketed A stand-up showcase in the Foundation Room at House of Blues Chicago.via Choose Chicago

Friday, Oct 23

Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls at Lincoln Park Zoo her thing ✓ Fri Oct 23 & Sat Oct 24, 6:30–10 PM · From $55 ($44 members); 21+ An adults-only Halloween night: craft beer and cider stations across the zoo, a costume contest and a pumpkin-carving demo.via Lincoln Park Zoo / Choose Chicago

Planned dates

The Move of the Week

Friday Oct 23: Zoo Brews, the 21+ Halloween night at Lincoln Park Zoo

A sunset lap of South Pond, then beer, cider and costumes inside the zoo after dark

Cost: From $110 for two (from $55 each nonmember); $70 each at the gate if any remain

her kind of night ✓ North Side

Friday, Oct 23, 5:30 PM: sunset about 6:01 South Pond, just south of Lincoln Park Zoo — Free. A 20-minute loop of the pond as the light goes. Come in costume if you're entering the contest.
Friday, 6:20 PM: a five-minute walk North into the zoo grounds — Head north from the pond to the zoo at 2001 N Clark St for the 6:30 start. Bring ID; it's 21 and over.
Friday, Oct 23, 6:30–10:00 PM: Fri and Sat only Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls, Lincoln Park Zoo — Craft beer and cider sampling stations across the zoo, a live pumpkin-carving demo, roaming entertainers and a costume contest. From $55 nonmembers, $44 members. Day-of tickets ($70) at the gate only if it hasn't sold out. Brewer lineup subject to change.

Weather backup: Can't do Friday? It runs again Saturday, Oct 24, 6:30 to 10, same tickets.

Saturday Oct 17: Open House Chicago in Ukrainian Village, then Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up

A morning inside Ukrainian Village buildings that are usually locked, then pumpkins and cocktails in the afternoon

Cost: $0 for Open House; Jack's entry and cocktail tickets online only, cashless

her kind of night ✓ Wicker Park & Logan Square

Saturday, Oct 17, 10:30 AM: Sat and Sun only; hours vary by site Open House Chicago, Ukrainian Village / West Town sites — Free, no reservations. Filter the directory to Ukrainian Village / West Town (9 sites), check each one's hours, and pick three. Give it about 2.5 hours.
Saturday, around 1:30 PM: about 1.5 miles northeast The hop to 1265 W Le Moyne St — About ten minutes by rideshare from Ukrainian Village to the pop-up near Goose Island.
Saturday, Oct 17, around 2:00 PM, by timed session: sunset about 6:10 Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up, 1265 W Le Moyne St — Book a timed session on the ticket page; weekend sessions start late morning and run into the evening. Pumpkin patch, corn maze, axe throwing, cocktails. Cashless.

Weather backup: Can't do Saturday? Open House Chicago runs Sunday, Oct 18, too, and Jack's books daily sessions.

Sunday Oct 18: Don Giovanni matinee at the Lyric, then the Riverwalk at sunset

Mozart at 2 in the afternoon, then a walk east along the river as the light goes

Cost: From $90 for two at the opera; the Riverwalk is free

her kind of night ✓ Downtown & River North

Sunday, Oct 18, 2:00 PM: Sunday matinee Don Giovanni, Lyric Opera House on Wacker Drive — Lyric's season opener, running Oct 10 to Nov 1. Tickets from $45. This performance carries live ASL interpretation. Lyric lists a running time of about 3 hours 25 minutes, so the curtain comes down around 5:25.
Sunday, after the curtain: a short walk Down to the river — The opera house sits on the river; take the nearest stairs down to the Riverwalk.
Sunday, around 5:30 PM: sunset about 6:08 Chicago Riverwalk, east toward the lake — Free. Walk east along the main branch of the river toward the lake as the light goes.

Weather backup: Can't do Sunday? Don Giovanni runs through Sunday, Nov 1; Lyric's calendar has the evening curtains.

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