A week of things to do with the kids
SHEDD AQUARIUM’S CALM WATERS
This one’s specifically for families with special-needs children or adults: The Shedd Aquarium offers special extended-hour visit opportunities twice this fall, with reduced ticket rates. With reduced crowd size, guests have greater freedom to explore all the exhibits, and they’ll get to watch an extra scuba dive into the Caribbean Reef. 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, and again Nov. 14, at the Shedd, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. $10. tinyurl.com/ydc9gnzw
Wednesday ‘CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’
This touring Broadway musical makes a silver-ticket-worthy attempt at adapting Roald Dahl’s classic book. It blends elements from the beloved original film version (including the songs “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man”) with book-faithful plot developments (Veruca Salt meets her maker in the Nut Room, following a hilarious but harrowing pas de squirrel). While the show skimps on the sets, instead relying too much on digital projections, its costumes are suitably colorful. The Oompa Loompas spring to zany life by mixing human heads with puppet bodies, while the lead actors — sly Noah Weisberg (Wonka) and charming Henry Boshart (Charlie, in some performances) have genuine chemistry. Catch it at 2 or 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (with five more shows through Sunday) at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. $22-$95. tinyurl.com/ycjnvom8
Friday JUICEBOX: SCRIBBLEMONSTER
Say hello to ScribbleMonster, a local group whose musicians also have their feet planted in the worlds of theater and comedy — ideal skills for adults who entertain young kids. The latest ScribbleMonster magic is at Juicebox, the city’s biweekly series of live performance for the toddler set. The all-ages show takes place twice: 11 a.m. Friday at the Chicago Cultural Center (Preston Bradley Hall), 78 E. Washington St.; and 11 a.m. Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free. tinyurl.com/ybv75cct
HALLOWEEN FAMILY NIGHT
The Halloween theme of Cantigny Park’s It’s truly an all-ages affair this weekend in Hyde Park, home to the second annual Logan Center Bluesfest. Saturday brings two singing workshops, one for kids ages 7-10, the other for young people 11-16, plus a performance by Fernando Jones’ Blues Kids of America. On Sunday, grab the kids and the grandparents too — Chicagoan avery r. young hosts a blues poetry and lyric-writing workshop. See the online schedule for the full lineup. At the Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Most programming is free, but register in advance for workshops. tinyurl.com/y858scak monthly Family Night makes this October edition extra popular. Dress in costume, decorate pumpkins and go trick-ortreating in this slice of outdoor paradise in Wheaton. For a cool photo op, kids can even climb on top of the “haunted tank.” 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Free; $5 parking. tinyurl.com/y7nzrakz
Saturday SPOOKY POOCH PARADE
We’re not convinced dogs love Halloween as much as humans, although there sure are plenty of opportunities to see canines in costumes in October. One of the biggest opportunities is at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where pups are typically verboten. But for two hours, they can strut their stuff in clever outfits and steal the show from the fall foliage. The parade concludes with prizes in multiple categories, including best puppy in costume, best horticultural interpretation and best dog/owner costume. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. $20 per pooch, $25 day of; free for people; $30 for parking. tinyurl.com/y92f29ca
KLINE CREEK FARM’S CORN HARVEST
Kline Creek Farm goes full-on Tom Sawyer with this clever annual event, when city slickers attend “Corn College” before they hit the fields. Yes, your kids will be picking and shucking corn to feed the farm’s cows and sheep throughout the winter. It’s fun, they say. (That was also Tom’s strategy to get his friends to paint a fence.) Back at the farmhouse, plug into corn-husk crafts or visit the chicken coop and beehives. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Free. tinyurl.com/y8j7ogc5
RANDHURST VILLAGE FALL FEST
There’s plenty to do at this northwest suburban fest, which includes Halloween touches but offers more than pumpkins and spooks. On the agenda: Make crazy chapeau with the Rad Hatter, chuckle at the costumed pets on parade, take a horse-drawn wagon ride and meet live owls from South Barrington’s Stillman Nature Center. Best of all, everything’s gratis — even the pumpkins you can decorate and take home (one per child). 1-4 p.m. at Randhurst Village, Rand and Elmhurst roads, Mount Prospect. Free. tinyurl.com/y7n6mbz4
ARTS IN THE DARK
A day with pagan roots, Halloween is celebrated today by children of many demographics — and also brings out many adults’ inner artists. The creative spirit of more than 90 organizations, most of them arts-and-culture based, goes on spooky/proud display during this annual downtown procession, organized by LUMA8. The all-ages spectacle includes floats and giant puppets, along with music and, of course, plenty of costumes. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., and the parade takes a new route this year: marching south on State Street from Lake to Van Buren. Families can hit post-parade parties at Millennium Park or Maggie Daley Park. Free. artsinthedark.org
Sunday BENGSTON’S PUMPKIN FEST
Autumn pleasures are in full swing at various farms and orchards all around Chicagoland, including this southwest suburban spot. The 12-and-older set can try a creepy excursion into the Haunted Barn, while those younger (or merely less daring) can enjoy the wonderfully benign Fun Barn. There’s a ton more, too, including a pumpkin chucker and carnival rides. Daily through Oct. 30 at Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm, 13341 W. 151st St., Homer Glen. $9-$20 admission, depending on day of the week; free for children 2 and younger. pumpkinfarm.com
MEET CHELSEA CLINTON
Author and humanitarian Chelsea Clinton devotes her attention to the young (ages 7-10) with her latest book, “Start Now! You Can Make a Difference.” Within the illustrated pages, she tackles everything from personal health — including what to do if you’re bullied — to outward activism, such as how to help endangered species. Meet Clinton at this book-signing event at 1 p.m. at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark St. Each $23 ticket includes one copy of “Start Now!” and admits up to four family members in the signing line. tinyurl.com/ycataqu6