Things To Do This Weekend October 10-12, 2025

By: Stephanie Wylie 10/08/2025

The season for cozy food and thrilling adventures is officially here, and Lake County is serving up an unforgettable weekend! Forget ordinary fall festivals—this October is packed with everything from gourmet comfort food and local craft brews to a magic journey and truly chilling haunted experiences. Get ready for costume contests, enchanting woodlands, haunted corn mazes, and delightful fall fun, because the best of Lake County's autumn is waiting for you!

Here we look at the top five things to do this weekend, October 10-12, 2025.

1. Stews and Brews at Port Clinton Square in Highland Park

Comfort food season officially arrives in downtown Highland Park this weekend with the return of Stews and Brews at Port Clinton Square. Unlike a traditional chili cook-off or craft beer festival, Stews and Brews offers a broader—and bolder—menu of cold-weather favorites. Visitors can savor everything from pozole and lamb stew to beef stroganoff, Hungarian goulash, potpies and rich, savory soups and more. Each dish can be paired with a curated selection of beverages, including local craft beers, spiced wines, mulled ciders and hot toddies. Vendors serving up something hot include Lake County Libation Trail partner Steep Ravine Brewing Co., Lynfred Winery and more.  With more food, more music and even more fun on tap for 2025, Highland Park’s Stews and Brews is the ultimate taste of fall in Lake County. For event details, visit EnjoyHighlandPark.com.

Saturday, October 11; 5-9 p.m. Free admission. Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave., Highland Park. 

2. Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Ingleside

For fans of “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts,” the chance to walk through a magical woodland and come face-to-face with fantastical creatures is coming to Lake County. Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience, a licensed event by Warner Bros., opens Oct. 2 at YMCA Camp Duncan, offering an immersive outdoor adventure designed to bring the wizarding world to life. Its Chicago-area stop promises to transport guests into a spellbinding forest, complete with interactive moments, stunning lighting and cinematic sound effects that echo the magic of the films. Visitors follow a woodland trail where iconic scenes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises are illuminated for the first time in a live, walk-through format. Along the path, they can encounter a Hippogriff, unicorns, Nifflers and other magical creatures, bringing the storylines of the movies into a real-world environment. Wands are encouraged as attendees can cast spells, practice charms and even conjure a Patronus. All characters and elements are licensed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., with publishing rights © J.K. Rowling. For tickets, visit FeverUp.com.

Friday-Saturday, October 10-12; Sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. and are available every 15 minutes. Tickets start at $29. Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience, YMCA Camp Duncan, 32405 N. US Highway 12, Ingleside. 

3. Howl-o-ween at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee

At Great Wolf Lodge Illinois, one night of Halloween simply isn’t enough. The family-friendly resort has transformed into a monthlong celebration of all things spooky and sweet with its annual Howl-O-Ween. Guests can dive into the spirit of the season with festive games, themed treats and Halloween-inspired activities spread throughout the resort. Costumes are not just welcome—they’re encouraged, adding to the playful atmosphere that delights both kids and parents. Let’s not forget five water slides, a wave pool, the lazy river and more at the waterpark as well as mini golf, bowling, wall climbing, delectable eats and more. The Gurnee amusement park’s Howl-O-Ween brings a dose of magic, mischief and memories that last well beyond October. The resort’s event runs daily through Halloween. For more details, visit GreatWolfLodge.com.

Friday-Sunday, October 10-12. Room rates and water park passes start at $409.99. Great Wolf Lodge Illinois, 1700 Nations Dr., Gurnee.

4. Pumpkin Jubilee in Village of Fox Lake

All aboard the Halloween Express as Fox Lake celebrates the season with its annual Pumpkin Jubilee. This festive fall tradition promises a fun-filled afternoon for families, featuring pumpkin carving, food and craft vendors, face painting, a trackless train, a kids costume contest, DJ entertainment and games. The event’s whimsical theme brings a locomotive twist to the Halloween spirit, making it a perfect outing for children and adults. Hosted in partnership with Libertyville Recreation, the Pumpkin Jubilee offers a lively mix of community charm and seasonal celebrations, an ideal way to experience autumn by the lake.

Sunday, October 12; 12-3 p.m. Admission is free, and pumpkin carving is available for $4 per pumpkin. Lakefront Park, 10 Riverview Ave., Fox Lake. 

5. American Nightmare Scream Park at Richardson Farm

One of the Midwest’s most chilling attraction is here to haunt your October nights. American Nightmare Scream Park at Richardson Adventure Farm, transforms 12 acres of towering corn into a labyrinth of terror unlike anything else in Chicagoland. Billed as the region’s only haunted corn maze scream park, the Spring Grove attraction features five themed haunted experiences, two full bars and a sprawling midway packed with entertainment from the moment guests enter the gates. For those brave enough to enter, American Nightmare Scream Park delivers a night of adrenaline-pumping adventure—one scream at a time. The haunted attractions is open Thursday to Sundays through November 1. Tickets and more information are available at ScareAmerica.net.

Friday-Sunday, October 10-12; Fri. and Sat.: 6-11 p.m. and Sun.: 6-10 p.m. General admission starts at $40. American Nightmare Scream Park, Richardson Adventure Farm, 909 English Prairie Rd., Spring Grove.

For more things to do this weekend, October 10-12, 2025, click here.