🎃👻 HAUNTED HALSTED 2026 — COSTUMES, QUEENS & HALLOWEEN DREAMS! 🌈🎭

🎃👻 HAUNTED HALSTED 2026 — COSTUMES, QUEENS & HALLOWEEN DREAMS! 🌈🎭

🎃 Chicago’s legendary LGBTQ+ Halloween celebration is back!

Get ready for outrageous costumes, fabulous performances, spooky surprises and plenty of Halloween fun in the heart of Northalsted, Chicago’s historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood!

📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026
📍 North Halsted Street — Belmont Avenue to Brompton Avenue
🕖 Parade kicks off at 7:00 PM - we meet outside about 6:15 pm

👻 LET’S CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN CHICAGO-STYLE!

The Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade returns for its 30th anniversary, bringing hundreds of creative costumes, colorful characters and over-the-top Halloween spirit to the streets. The parade is free to watch, so come enjoy the show!

🍽️ PRE-PARADE DINNER — SEPARATE MEETUP RSVP REQUIRED!
We’ll have dinner beforehand at Las Mañanitas, 3523 N. Halsted Street, but seating is limited, so dinner is a separate Meetup event.

👉 RSVP for dinner here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/317068971/
Please RSVP separately for dinner if you plan to join us. Attending the parade does not automatically reserve you a seat at the restaurant.

🎭 THE PARADE — WHAT TO EXPECT
We’re watching toward the end of the parade route this year, near Halsted and Brompton, for a chance to catch the festivities as they come through!

Look for some spectacular sights, including:
🔥 Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers
🚙 Windy City Jeep Club
🧟 Chicago Thriller dance troupe
🎺 Lakeside Pride Marching Band
🛼 Windy City Rollers
📣 Chicago Spirit Brigade pep squad
And, of course, the main attraction: fabulous, outrageous, creative and sometimes downright terrifying costumes!

🏆 COSTUME CONTEST — $4,000 IN CASH PRIZES!
Feeling creative? The contest features five categories:
👑 Character: Media, pop culture, celebrities and historical figures
🎨 Creative: Originality, materials and wow factor
👻 Scary: Spooky and horror-inspired creations
👯 Group: Two or more people; one shared prize
🧒 Youth: Under 13, accompanied by an adult

Each category awards $500 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.
Contest participation is $5 according to the official event information. Spectators can watch for free.

📍 Parade begins at Halsted & Belmont at 7:00 PM and ends near Halsted & Brompton around 8:00 PM.

🏅 The costume contest and post-parade party follow at 3514 N. Halsted, with the official event scheduled to wrap up at 10:00 PM.

🚆 GETTING THERE — PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
CTA is your best bet for avoiding Halloween traffic and street closures.
🚇 Belmont station serves the Red, Brown and Purple lines.
🚇 Addison station serves the Red Line.
Plan your trip:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

🚗 DRIVING & PARKING
Please plan ahead if you’re driving. Several streets around the parade route will have parking restrictions and vehicle closures on Halloween, including portions of Halsted, Brompton, Cornelia, Aldine and nearby streets.

Check all posted signs and consider reserving a spot through SpotHero or ParkWhiz. Public transportation is likely the less stressful option!

🐾 BRINGING A PET?
Pets are welcome to watch or participate in the parade, but must be leashed or carried. Consider your pet’s comfort with large crowds, loud music and Halloween costumes before bringing them along.

🌧️ RAIN OR SHINE — OR EVEN SNOW!
The official event information says the parade goes on despite rain or snow, so dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

🎃👠 COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED!
We’ve done this for several years, and it’s always a blast! Come dressed up, come ready to people-watch, or simply enjoy the parade and all the Halloween creativity.

📌 PLEASE UPDATE YOUR RSVP!
If your plans change, update your RSVP by the event start time so someone else can take your spot.

⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY

Three no-shows without updating your RSVP = a three-month suspension from future events.
RSVP updates close at the event start time.
If you miss the start, message the event host directly.
Not checking in with the host counts as a no-show for walks, tours and festivals.
Continued no-shows may result in removal from the group.

🌈🎃 Let’s make Halloween unforgettable in Boystown/Northalsted, with great company, outrageous costumes and one of Chicago’s most entertaining Halloween traditions!

I hope you’ll join us for a little spooky fun! 👻🥂🎉