Naper Settlement swaps its 20-year-old teen fright fest for a new family Halloween festival Oct. 24-25.
Family Spooktacular, geared toward kids ages 3 to 12, takes over the 13-acre campus at 523 S. Webster St. on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25. It replaces All Hallows Eve, the preteen-and-teen-focused scare event that ran for more than two decades.
The shift came after audience surveys showed the crowd had changed. Brittany Tepper, Naper Settlement's marketing director, told the Chicago Tribune in June that over 73% of All Hallows Eve attendees in 2025 were families with children 12 and under. Attendance had also declined.
"… We found that the need of attendees had really shifted over the past five years," Tepper said in June.
Instead of Frankenstein's laboratory and a torture dungeon, families will find candy stops at historic homes across the campus. A Halloween Inflatables Zone features a fright-free haunted house, and kids can learn to make slime at Ghoul School, try laser tag, get face painting or enter a family costume contest.
The headliner is The Little Mermen & The Princess Pals, a New York-based Disney tribute band. They play two one-hour shows each day: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Saturday hours run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday hours run noon to 4 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under. Food and seasonal snacks will be available for purchase. A Spooky Spirits Bar will serve craft beers and seasonal wines for guests 21 and older. Parking and accessibility details have not been posted; check napersettlement.org for updates.
Naper Settlement's separate adults-only event, Howlin' at the Moon, returns Friday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Tickets for Family Spooktacular are on sale at napersettlement.org.
This week in Naperville
- Tickets on sale now: Family Spooktacular, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. $15/adult, $10/child (4-12), free under 4. Details at napersettlement.org.
- Friday, Sept. 4: Last Fling returns to downtown Naperville with rides, a parade and live music. Riverwalk parking lot closes Wednesday, Sept. 2 for setup.
