{"id":211364,"date":"2025-09-08T23:37:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T23:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/211364\/"},"modified":"2025-09-08T23:37:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T23:37:14","slug":"15-reasons-fall-in-chicago-truly-stands-out-from-someone-whos-lived-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/211364\/","title":{"rendered":"15 reasons fall in Chicago truly stands out\u2014from someone who\u2019s lived it"},"content":{"rendered":"

While Chicago may be famous for its euphoric summertimes, fall still has plenty to offer before the gauntlet of pain better known as \u201cwinter\u201d arrives. As a Chicagoan of 14 years and born-and-raised Midwesterner, I don\u2019t think fall gets nearly as much love as it deserves: The seasonal foods are richer, the calendar of things to do<\/a> is superior, and who doesn\u2019t love cozying up to watch a scary movie while eating candy by the handful? I\u2019ll kindly step off my soapbox and offer you 15 more reasons why fall in Chicago is an unimpeachable delight.<\/p>\n

1. Leaf peeping season is in full swing.<\/p>\n

According to Explore Fall<\/a>, fall colors will\u00a0paint\u00a0Chicago\u2019s foliage\u00a0throughout October, so now is prime time to start planning your leaf peeping expeditions. Head to some of the more well-known\u00a0Chicago parks\u00a0and\u00a0gardens\u00a0to see towering oaks and fiery red Japanese maples, or take a\u00a0contemplative stroll through a cemetery to watch yellow weeping willows drape over a leaf-filled pond. If you\u2019re itching to take a quick\u00a0day trip from Chicago, you\u2019ll find several suburban conservatories and arboretums on our list of the\u00a0best spots to admire fall foliage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Drinks taste better in a beer garden (that\u2019s just science).<\/p>\n

Sometimes the best beer pairing isn\u2019t burgers and fries\u2014it\u2019s a cool breeze and sunshine dappling your face. Luckily for us Chicagoans, there are plenty of beer gardens\u2014most of which are dog-friendly\u2014for alfresco boozing and schmoozing. We even compiled a full list of\u00a0Chicago\u2019s best beer gardens<\/a>\u00a0just for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Strolling through a cemetery is seasonally on-brand.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re angling to spend an afternoon soaking in nature’s quiet, look no further than Chicago\u2019s cemeteries. These contemplative environs serve as the final resting spots of countless famous Chicagoans\u2014so many, in fact, that you could spend hours getting lost among the stately tombstones and crypts studding their manicured grounds, which rival even the most scenic Chicago parks. Unsurprisingly, many of these spots also number among the most haunted places in Chicago, so try not get too scared when you visit the most beautiful cemeteries in Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\nPhotograph: Shutterstock <\/p>\n

4. It\u2019s finally apple picking season.<\/p>\n

Few things are as glorious as the bragging rights that come with bringing home a basket of apples you picked with your bare hands.\u00a0If you\u2019re not much of an outdoors person, pick up a bag of pre-picked apples and a box of cinnamon donuts from an orchard and feel like a hero. Whichever path you choose, we\u2019ve done some extensive research and found 14 delightful apple orchards<\/a> for all of your seasonal fruit-related needs. \u2028<\/p>\n

5. Club shows take precedent over music festivals.<\/p>\n

Sure, sweating and stage-hopping at one of Chicago\u2019s many outdoor music festivals is its own type of fun, but fall brings with it special shows at venerable Chicago venues like\u00a0Metro<\/a>,\u00a0Empty Bottle<\/a>,\u00a0Outset<\/a>\u00a0and more. This year, the Empty Bottle is celebrating its 33\u00a0\u2153rd anniversary with a slew of solid underplays (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart; Cindy Lee), while Metro is hosting some indie favorites (Purity Ring; Minus the Bear) and \u201880s throwback acts (Andy Bell of Erasure).\u2028<\/p>\n

6. You can carve a jack-o\u2019-lantern from a pumpkin you picked yourself.<\/p>\n

Sure, rolling up to Jewel to pluck a dusty ol\u2019 pumpkin from their parking lot bin is sufficient, but that\u2019s forfeiting the thrill of bobbing and weaving through a vine-covered pumpkin patch, piping hot cider in hand.\u00a0Bask in the bounty of Chicagoland\u2019s many pumpkin patches<\/a>\u00a0and pick up a locally grown gourd for your carving pleasure.\u00a0Most pumpkin patches offer fresh baked goods, hay rides and more, so you easily can\u2014and should\u2014make a day of it.\u00a0\u2028<\/p>\n

7. There\u2019s no shortage of drive-in movies.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Chicagoans love their outdoor movies\u2014from Movies in the Parks<\/a> to Music Box Theatre\u2019s Garden Movies<\/a>\u00a0series. If you’re looking to take your alfresco moviegoing to the next level, might we recommend the humble drive-in movie? One of the most satisfying autumnal activities is loading up a car with as many snacks as your dashboard can hold,\u00a0setting up a tailgate-style spread with friends or getting cozy for an old-school date at one of\u00a0the best drive-in theaters near Chicago<\/a>. Just make sure those windshields are spotless.<\/p>\n

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\nPhotograph: Courtesy Indiana Dunes TourismIndiana Dunes <\/p>\n

8. It\u2019s prime time to hike.<\/p>\n

Looking for an outdoorsy experience that\u2019s a\u00a0bit more adventurous than rambling through your neighborhood park? Cross state lines to visit the gorgeous Indiana Dunes along Lake Michigan, explore the ruins of a steel mill in Joliet or tackle the sprawling 30-mile Ice Age Trail at Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. If you\u2019re yearning for a quick escape from the city, put on your best boots and hit the trails at some of the best places for hiking near Chicago<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

9. Candy is technically a food group for the month of October.<\/p>\n

As the recovering child of a health-nut household, autumn feels like sweet revenge with\u00a0candy overflowing from grocery aisles and the city\u2019s best confectionaries. Whether you\u2019re looking for silky caramels or cloud-like marshmallows for the most decadent s\u2019mores on this side of the\u00a0Mississippi there\u2019s plenty of ways to\u00a0satisfy that sweet tooth at the best candy and chocolate shops<\/a>\u00a0in Chicago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

10. Night of 1,000 Jack-o\u2019-Lanterns returns.<\/p>\n

On of the best times to visit the Chicago Botanic Garden is in the midst of its annual ghoulish makeover. Night of 1,000 Jack-o\u2019-Lanterns<\/a>\u00a0corrals more than 1,000 LED-lit pumpkins\u2014some weighing up to 150 pounds\u2014and stages them along the garden\u2019s pathway.\u00a0Just over half of those pumpkins will be\u00a0intricately carved with themes including tributes to Chicago sports teams, beloved pets and much more. Seasonal snacks and drinks are available for purchase, in case all that wandering makes you hungry.<\/p>\n

11. Street festivals galore.<\/p>\n

From Oktoberfest celebrations and makers\u2019 markets to Halloween parades, street festivals pack Chicagoans\u2019 calendars all season long. Some personal favorites include Sundays on State<\/a>, Arts in the Dark<\/a> and Begyle and Dovetail Brewing\u2019s joint birthday party\u00a0Oktoberfestiversary<\/a>. To make sure you never miss a Chicago street festival, bookmark our\u00a0Things to Do<\/a> section.<\/p>\n

12. Chicago International Film Festival\u00a0dominates your favorite movie theaters.<\/p>\n

Some of the latest and greatest movies to hit the festival circuit arrive in the Midwest during the Chicago International Film Festival, which typically presents a lineup of around 100 dramas, documentaries, comedies and foreign films, plus several short film programs. Don\u2019t miss the opening night screening of One Golden Summer, a documentary about\u00a0Chicago\u2019s Jackie Robinson West Little League\u2014the first all-Black team to win the Little League U.S. Baseball Championship. Learn about other programming on the Chicago International Film Festival website<\/a>.\u2028<\/p>\n

13. Museums transform into haunted houses.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s museums take Halloween seriously: The Shedd Aquarium<\/a> transforms into a haunted house for the 21-plus crowd,\u00a0Chicago Shakespeare Theater<\/a> is bringing a stage adaption of Paranormal Activity to its stage, the Field Museum<\/a> returns with its spooky after-hours event and much more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. We can all be ghost hunters, even just for a day.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever wanted to have a real paranormal encounter, Chicago has plenty of destinations where you can cosplay as a ghost hunter. I\u2019m not just talking historic buildings with reported hauntings\u2014music venues,\u00a0cemeteries\u00a0and\u00a0hotels throughout Chicago all have ghost stories surrounding them, too. If you\u2019re ready for activities of the\u00a0supernatural persuasion, check out our list of the 26 most haunted places in Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

15. Open House Chicago is back.<\/p>\n

Want to peep past the doors of iconic Chicago buildings like the Chicago Board of Trade Building or Walt Disney’s childhood home? You’ll have your chance to get a free, behind-the-scenes look when the Chicago Architecture Center\u2019s annual festival Open House Chicago<\/a> returns, opening up more than 170 architectural wonders across the city for free tours.\u00a0This year marks the 15th anniversary of the always-free public festival\u2014with the anniversary comes new locations, a transit plan and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While Chicago may be famous for its euphoric summertimes, fall still has plenty to offer before the gauntlet…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":211365,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[10336,960,5386,1818,10337,1072],"class_list":{"0":"post-211364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-categories-things-to-do","9":"tag-chicago","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-illinois","12":"tag-news-city-life","13":"tag-things-to-do"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115171311306872848","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}