Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Haunted Halsted is the city’s biggest Halloween costume parade, and in 2026 it lands on Halloween night itself, a Saturday. According to the organizer, the Northalsted Business Alliance, the parade runs 7 to 8 p.m. from Halsted and Belmont north to Halsted and Brompton, with a block party on Halsted between Aldine and Addison through the evening. The organizer expects more than 300 costumed participants and says the event goes on rain or snow.

The costume contest is the draw. Per the organizer, five categories (Character, Creative, Scary, Youth under 13 and Group) each pay $500, $200 and $100 for first through third place, $4,000 total. Entry is free and open to all ages. The block party has food and drink, vendors, live music, a kids’ zone and trick-or-treating before the parade.

Spectator admission is free. The organizer notes Fodor’s Travel has ranked the parade among the top ten in the country.

Plan your visit

The Red Line’s Belmont stop is two blocks west of the parade start, and the Addison stop is a five-minute walk from the north end. Halsted closes from Belmont to Brompton, and Belmont and Addison get partial closures, so driving to Lakeview on Halloween night is a mistake; there is essentially no street parking. The sidewalks along Halsted between Roscoe and Cornelia fill by 6 p.m. Come in costume, bring a warm layer under it and expect to walk back to the train with a crowd. Bars on the strip are 21-plus after the parade.