Fall for Chicago This October!

October in Chicago is lovely. The leaves are turning beautiful colors and the air feels crisp. Truly, autumn is revealing itself. Let us guide you through October’s Highlights; so much is in store. This month you will find plenty of events that will keep you and your family busy, but don’t forget to take a moment and simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery!

The Big Screen: Chicago Film Festivals The right movie can stay with you forever. It can transport you to another time and another place. This month, come and be part of the magic with a night at the movies! There are three film festivals going on around the city that are diverse, dynamic and buzzing with energy; any movie lover will be delighted! So whether you’re a film buff or someone who simply enjoys watching stories come to life on the big screen, you are in for a truly enjoyable experience.

The 45th Annual Chicago International Film Festival, running from October 8th through 21st, is North America’s oldest competitive film festival. The festival’s mission is to broaden minds and give the world something new; during the course of these two weeks, directors, actors and the audience all become part of an experience that has the potential to touch and even change lives. Such is the power of film.

This year, the organizers are proud to announce that 40 of their films are by first-time filmmakers, and 20 are directed by women. Those involved in the festival intend to reach the world via film, and it all starts right here in Chicago. The festival will screen movies at six different movie theaters around the city and will include films in several categories including Anime, Black Perspectives, Docufest, Family Focus, World Cinema and many more. Featuring 150 films from over 40 countries, this film festival has something for everyone, no matter what you enjoy.

Many of the movies at the International Film Festival are not suitable for children, but don’t worry. Kids have a festival all their own! The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, running from October 22nd through November 1st, is North America’s largest film festival for children. It has been running since 1983 and is interactive, allowing children to vote for their favorite movies. The festival is held at venues around the city, including Facets Cinema in Lincoln Park.

Over 200 films from 40 countries will be shown; categories include live action, animation, shorts and documentaries. There is even a category for films produced by children! Each year, over 100 filmmakers attend the festival and hold workshops that teach children about this influential form of media. The festival targets children ages 3-16 and all movies are rated to help teachers and parents determine what is appropriate for each child. Special group rates are available.

The fun continues with the Midwest Film Festival, a monthly event that features movies made by Midwest filmmakers. It takes place at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema on Chicago’s near-north side. Held the first Tuesday of every month, October’s installment is called the First Annual Advertising Community Shorts Night. Some of the films that will be shown on October 6th include:

• Sugar (The imagination of a waiter runs wild when a beautiful patron asks him for sugar in her coffee)
• A Nephilim Grieves (An aesthetically mesmerizing journey between dreams and actuality)
• Odd Shoe (A young boy with battered old trainers discovers life has new meaning when he chances on a brand new pair of leather shoes)
• Juiced and Jazzed (In Prohibition era 1920’s, hot jazz music overcomes a young woman named Lulu after she stumbles upon a flask)

Check out these and many more films at this one-of-a-kind event!

The Spooky City: Halloween in Chicago Chicago does everything in style, and Halloween is no exception. This month the festivities are not limited to just October 31st; there are dozens of events going on all month long. Whether you want to show off your costume, collect lots of treats or party the night away, you will be sure to find a way to celebrate Halloween your way.

Check out Chicagoween 2009; this is a collection of activities going on throughout the city during October. Several free events will be held in Daley Plaza, including the Midnight Circus, a Mask-Making Demonstration, fire and ultraviolet-based performances by Pyrotechniq, a Costume Contest, Trick-or-Treating and Hayrides.

Also check out the Pumpkins in the Park 5K, on Sat. Oct. 17th, a run/walk event at the Lincoln Park South Fields where participants dress in Halloween costumes. There is also a post-race party that includes lives music, refreshments and dancing.

Another great event is Trails of Terror 2009. Taking place at Peterson Park in North Park Village between Oct 23rd and 31st, this is a ½ mile of haunted fun. Walk through a deserted ghost town and try to prepare yourself for the scary surprises that are in store for you. There is a cemetery, a bloody barn and a spooky maze that you will need nerves of steel to enter! This event is not recommended for children under the age of 8.

The Chicago Park District is host to almost 70 Halloween events going on in the numerous parks around the city. These include pumpkin patches, parties, haunted houses and much more. Many of these activities are suitable for children, making them great options for families who want to celebrate the holiday together.

The Chicago Cultural Center is celebrating as well with their Hallowed Halls event. This is a one-day event held on October 31st that is fun for the whole family. The event includes Mask and Costume Making, a Playwriting and Acting Workshop and a performance by the Barrel of Monkeys theatre ensemble of their play “That’s Weird, Grandma.” The event is free for all participants, go join the fun!

Chicago’s Civic Orchestra gets in on the fun with their Hallowed Haunts concert on October 24th. Appropriate for children ages 5 and older, this concert features spooky music, a costume party and other great activities.

Each year during October, Navy Pier turns into Navy Fear! See the Carnival of Curiosities, a sideshow that includes a colorful and creepy cast of characters who perform acrobatics and strange feats as they walk around the Pier. There is also The Fear, a haunted house that has been touted by several media outlets as one of the scariest in the city. There are also fireworks shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 pm.

Looking for some Halloween nightlife? Dance the night away at the Crobar Nightclub Dead Man’s Ball on October 31st. Come dressed up and enter for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas! The Dead Man’s Ball is for adults ages 21 and older.

Halloween is invading Chicago’s theatre scene as well. For kids, check out The Jolly Rogers Halloween at the Emerald City Theatre School from October 10th-31st. This is an interactive concert complete with games and lots of laughs and fun!

Also playing is Dracula at the College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center (in suburban Glen Ellyn) from October 15th-November 1st. This is the classic tale of a girl who becomes victim to a mysterious illness: could it be the bite of her vampire neighbor, Count Dracula?

Another option is Rhymes with Evil at the DCA Theatre from October 8th-November 8th. For adults only, this play deals with themes such as loss, danger, love and imagination as a father invents a creepy make-believe world for his daughter.

See our Chicago Events Calendar for other upcoming activities around Chicago.

Make Your Visit More Affordable! Chicago is home to countless attractions, dozens of museums and hundreds of restaurants. How do you choose? A great way to get ideas is by checking out the dozens of discount coupons and special savings that are available for attractions around the city. Chicago Traveler makes it easy to access these coupons. By seeing some of the most popular options, you will be inspired. And by seeing how much you can save with these coupons, you will be thrilled!

Here are some examples of the great savings available with these Chicago coupons:

• Attractions, such as a Buy One, Get One Free Admission to the Amazing Funhouse Maze at Navy Pier
• Dining, such as a 15% discount on your entire bill at the China Grill
• Entertainment offers include: complementary admission to the Sears Skydeck with purchase of a ticket to Blue Man Group,  2-for-1 tickets for any downtown walking tour on Mon - Thu, or 2-for-1 tickets on the Chicago Water Taxi.
• Museums, such as $2 off admission to the Chicago History Museum
• Shopping, such as an extra 15% off your purchase at Filene’s Basement

To see all available coupons, please click here.

Chicago Highlights is a monthly publication of Chicago Traveler written by Zahra Ink - Chicago Writing Services, for more issues, see the Chicago Highlights Archive.