Lake Forest and Lake Bluff families have their Halloween game plan: trick-or-treating runs 4 to 8 p.m. in Lake Forest and 4 to 7 p.m. in Lake Bluff on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Both towns start at the same time. Lake Forest gives families an extra hour of doorbell ringing, with a recommended window that stretches to 8 p.m.
The hours are the officially recommended windows, according to Patch. FrightMaps, which tracks municipal announcements across the country, confirmed the Lake Forest 4 to 8 p.m. window, citing the City of Lake Forest.
Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026.
Neighboring communities
Families planning to cover ground beyond Lake Forest and Lake Bluff have several nearby options with earlier start times, according to Patch:
- Highland Park: 3:30 to 7 p.m.
- Highwood: 3 to 7 p.m.
- Winnetka, Wilmette and Northfield: 3 to 7 p.m.
All five neighboring areas open earlier than Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Highland Park, Highwood, Winnetka, Wilmette and Northfield all wrap up by 7 p.m.
Lake Bluff Pumpkin Bash and Pumpkin Chase
Before the big night, Lake Bluff hosts its annual Pumpkin Bash from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, according to the Village of Lake Bluff events calendar. The Lake Bluff PTO Pumpkin Chase follows Saturday, Oct. 24, with a 5K at 8 a.m. and a one-mile fun run at 9:15 a.m., starting near Lake Bluff Middle School. Registration and pricing are available through the race website.
