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By Philip Vidal<\/p>\n
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I recall hearing that Halloween is nearly tied with Christmas as the most important holiday for decorating, party-giving and festivities.\u00a0 But there are many ways to enjoy Chicago in October that do not require a costume!<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is currently the only venue in the U.S. for \u201cYoko Ono: Music of the Mind<\/a>.\u201d This solo exhibition of Ono\u2019s work runs October 18 through February 22, 2026, and includes related live music performance, film screenings and talks.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Did you know Yoko Ono\u2019s first permanent public artwork resides in Chicago? Visit the Wooded Island in Jackson Park to view Sky Landing. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ono\u2019s first permanent artwork in the U.S., \u201cSky Landing<\/a>\u201d (2016), is located on the Wooded Island in Jackson Park.\u00a0 The sculpture is on the site of the Phoenix Pavillion that Japan brought to the 1893 Chicago World\u2019s Fair.\u00a0 Mayor Rahm Emanuel presided over the ground healing ceremony on June 12, 2015.\u00a0 Yoko Ono attended.\u00a0 I also attended, as did the descendants of those involved with the planning of the fair.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another solo exhibition of an internationally acclaimed artist, and billed as the \u201cfirst solo museum exhibition in his hometown of Chicago,\u201d the Smart Museum of Art presents \u201cTheaster Gates: Unto Thee<\/a>\u201d through February 22, 2026.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Aqu\u00ed en Chicago\u00a0traces the lives of Latino\/a\/e communities in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The exhibition opens at the Chicago History Museum on October 25. Photo by Chicago History Museum.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As part of its \u201cChicago Stories\u201d series, WTTW debuted \u201cYoung Lords of Lincoln Park<\/a>\u201d last October about the Young Lords Organization (YLO), which morphed from a social club to street gang to political organization to battle gentrification in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in the 1960s.\u00a0 My paternal grandparents from Germany bought a home on Cleveland, just north of Lincoln Avenue in the 1920s and moved out in the 1940s, long before gentrification was on anyone\u2019s mind.\u00a0 The DePaul Art Museum continues the narrative about the Young Lords with the exhibition \u201cTengo Lincoln Park en mi coraz\u00f3n: Young Lords in Chicago<\/a>\u201d through February 8, 2026.\u00a0 The Chicago History Museum\u2019s exhibition \u201cAqu\u00ed en Chicago<\/a>\u201d opens October 25 and explores the long history of Latino\/a\/e communities in Chicago and its suburbs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n PHOTO CREDIT:\u00a0The\u00a0Joffrey at Wolftrap, Virginia, c. 1970s. Photograph by Herbert Migdoll \u00a9 Joffrey Ballet. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n From October 3-December 20, Wrightwood 659 hosts a trifecta of terrific exhibitions: \u201cEllen Altfest: Forever<\/a>;\u201d \u201cThe Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S.<\/a>;\u201d and \u201cScott Burton: Shape Shift<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0The Joffrey exhibition marks their 70th anniversary and explores how it became a role model for dance companies across the United States.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The influential surrealist film maker Luis Bu\u00f1uel is the subject of the exhibition \u201cBu\u00f1uel: Master of Dreams<\/a>\u201d in a seemingly unlikely spot\u2026the International Museum of Surgical Science, which is housed in one of the few remaining mansions along the lake that\u2019s open to the public.\u00a0 The exhibition marks the centennial of Surrealism and Bu\u00f1uel\u2019s 125th birthday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The sixty-first Chicago International Film festival<\/a> runs October 15-26 at ten venues throughout the city.\u00a0\u00a0 It opens on the 15th at the Music Box Theatre with the world premiere of Kevin Shaw\u2019s \u201cOne Golden Summer<\/a>,\u201d about Chicago\u2019s Jackie Robinson\u2019s West Little League team.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Join the original \u2018Brad Majors\u2019 for Rocky Horror Picture Show as they celebrate the movie\u2019s 50th anniversary on October 19 at the Chicago Theatre. Photo by Chicago Theatre.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The cult classic movie \u201cThe Rocky Horror Picture Show\u201d was released in 1975. \u00a0Just in time for Halloween, and to mark the movie\u2019s 50th anniversary, the Chicago Theatre presents \u201cRocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour<\/a>\u201d on October 19. BrightSide Theatre in Naperville opens its 14th season with \u201cThe Rocky Horror Picture Show \u2013 Live!<\/a>\u201d which runs there from October 24-November 9.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Adapted by F. Andrew Leslie from the novel by Shirley Jackson, \u201cThe Haunting of Hill House<\/a>\u201d opens the Saint Sebastian Players\u2019 44th season at St. Bonaventure, October 24-November 9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Robert Wise\u2019s 1963 film adaptation of the novel is one of the scariest movies I\u2019ve ever seen.\u00a0 Raven Theatre opens its 43rd season with Southern Gothic-style horror.\u00a0 The Chicago premiere of Terry Guest\u2019s \u201cOak<\/a>\u201d runs October 2-November 9.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Take part in the 11th annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade along the iconic State Street on October 18, 6-8 PM. There will be a record 5,000 performers across 100 cultural organizations participating in the festivities! Photo credit to Alex Basse Photography.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But not all is dark and horrific, the 11th Arts in the Dark Parade<\/a> on October 18 on State Street between Lake and VanBuren is a fun, family-friendly nighttime parade that USA Today named in 2023 as one of the top ten Halloween events in the nation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, continue with the 8th citywide edition of Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival<\/a>, October 1-November 2, and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre\u2019s inaugural Chicago Latinx\/e Contemporary Movement Festival<\/a> at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts on October 11.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Oktoberfest continues! Naperville hosts their Oktoberfest weekend with music, dancing, food and even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, October 3-4. Photo courtesy of Naper Settlement.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I can celebrate my German heritage at one of the many Oktoberfest celebrations that continue through this month. Oktoberfest<\/a> at the Naper Settlement in Naperville, October 3-4, offers a photo op next to the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile<\/a> on October 3.\u00a0 The 13th annual Oktoberfestiversary<\/a> at Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery on Malt Row in Chicago\u2019s Ravenswood\u2019s neighborhood, October 11-23, features food trucks, live music and kids\u2019 activities.\u00a0 Donations benefit The Friendship Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Chicago is known as a city of neighborhoods. The Chicago Humanities Festival comes to Hyde Park on October 18 with UChicago Arts + Humanities Day<\/a>.\u00a0 There will be a wide array of presenters, including comedian Nick Offerman, photographer Sally Mann, and Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber.\u00a0\u00a0 The 15th edition of Chicago Architecture Center\u2019s Open House Chicago<\/a>, October 18-19, is a great way to explore Chicago\u2019s neighborhoods.\u00a0 This free festival offers behind-the-scenes access to over 200 sites, including 30 new sites (organized by neighborhoods), and introduces neighborhood headquarters.\u00a0 This year marks the centennial of the Exposition Internationale des Art Decoratifs in Paris in 1925 that sparked the Art Deco international design movement.\u00a0 Open House Chicago features some of Chicago\u2019s Art Deco gems such as the Chicago Board of Trade building.\u00a0\u00a0 You can also find Art Deco and other treasures at the Antiques + Modernism Show<\/a> (53rd year) at the Community House in Winnetka, October 31-November 2. \u00a0Proceeds from that show benefit the Community House.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n October features a wide variety of music this month, including blasts from my past.\u00a0 The Psychedelic Furs with special guest Gary Numan<\/a> perform at the Auditorium on October 4.\u00a0 Elvis Costello & The Impostors, with Charlie Sexton<\/a>, perform at the Chicago Theatre on October 16.\u00a0 The Auditorium hosts \u201cAn Evening with David Byrne \u2013 Who is the Sky Tour<\/a>\u201d October 28, 29, 31 and November 1.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For something really old, the Haymarket Opera Company and The Newberry Consort present a concert version of Jacopo Peri\u2019s 1600 opera \u201cEuridice<\/a>\u201d at the Art Institute of Chicago\u2019s Fullerton Hall, October 24, and the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston, October 25.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The acclaimed Organiste Titulaire of N\u00f4tre Dame, Paris, Olivier Latry, will be in town for a wonderful night of free live music at St. Chrysostom\u2019s, October 17th at 7:30 PM.\u00a0 Photo credit to Deyan Parouchev.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Under the direction of Richard Hoskins, St. Chrysostom\u2019s has an incredible music program. A highlight this fall is a free performance by one of the world\u2019s top organists, Olivier Latry<\/a>, the Organiste Titulaire of N\u00f4tre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on October 17th at 7:30 PM.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Midwest\u2019s largest celebration of new and experimental music returns for the first time since 2021.\u00a0 Showcasing the new work of many Illinois composers, the Ear Taxi Festival<\/a> runs October 3-November 2 at various locations.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Chicago Fashion Week\u00ae\u2019s 11 day citywide celebration of fashion kicks off on October 9 with variety of public events including fashion education and runway fashion events. Photo credit to James Gustin of Fig Media.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Sky-Landing.jpg\")
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