[Skip to Content]

Halloweek in the Loop - Spooky Scenes, Crafty Cocktails and more!

Posted  3 years ago  in  Trending, Things to Do

3 MIN READ – In these times, masks aren’t just for trick-or-treaters. But there are plenty of safe ways to celebrate this spooky holiday downtown in the Loop. And why restrict the fun to just one day? This year, the city of Chicago is gearing up for Halloweek! Whether you’re young or old, looking to dine or enjoy Loop attractions, or even if you want to support a Loop business from home, we’ve got you covered.


Visit a spooky attraction

There’s plenty to do downtown, but nothing raises the hair on the back of your neck like standing on Skydeck’s glass floor 99 stories high at Willis Tower. While Halloween may look a little different this year, that won’t stop #SkydeckChicago from celebrating. The first 250 guests to wear a costume during their visit on Halloween weekend (Friday, October 30-Sunday, November 1) will be rewarded with a free donut voucher to Do-Rite Donuts at the Willis Tower location in Catalog. Restrictions apply on redemption; limit one per person in costume, and the donut must be redeemed during DoRite’s open hours at the Willis Tower location. Be sure to share which costume you choose by tagging @SkydeckChicago. Find more details on their Facebook page.

Or check out the International Museum of Surgical Science, where Halloween is the favorite time of year. They are open and operating under normal hours, so stop by and see what the Washington Post calls "Chicago's Creepy Cabinet of Curiosities." 200-year-old bone saws? Check. 4,000-year-old skulls? Check. Paintings of surgeries in excruciating detail? Check and check. Their exhibits will hit the right note for spooky season—and make you grateful for modern medicine. Visit imss.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

Dine out

Visit a Loop restaurant this Halloween, like I|O Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, where you can revel in a first-time Haunted Igloo rooftop experience. Throughout the day, guests can book a heated, clear-domed igloo on the rooftop and enjoy surprises and scares throughout their visit, including spooky décor, a fire dancer, a “best costume” prize giveaway, DJ music entertainment, seasonal bites, and more. I|O Godfrey will also introduce its newest Kitchen Cocktails for imbibing. Each private igloo seats between two and six guests for up to two-hour reservations. Reservation package prices vary and can be found on Tock.

Join Corner Bakery for Halloweek and celebrate Halloween all week long! Starting Monday, October 26 through Saturday, October 31, get one free kids meal when you purchase an adult entrée, a SPOOKTACULAR Deal! Learn more about the deal and participating locations.

Or visit any of the other fantastic restaurants open in the Loop.

Enjoy the Loop from home

If you’re more comfortable celebrating from home this year, we’ve got good news: There are plenty of ways to support local Loop businesses and attractions without leaving the house. For example, do you like spooky stories? Well, so does the American Writers Museum! Join them for a special Halloween edition of Little Squirrels Storytime on October 29. The AWM will air a reading of The Halloween Tree live on Facebook and YouTube at 10:30 a.m. Central, read by Matt, one of their engaging and fun storytellers.

For another fun activity, Sugar Bliss has Halloween Decorating Cupcake Kits (includes everything to decorate Frankenstein, creepy spider, and ghost cupcakes - $48) and Halloween Sweets Packages—the "Boo" Package for that kid who loves to trick or treat and the "Monster" Package for that small Halloween party. Learn more about each offering, and order now!

And for the grownups of the house, consider purchasing a cocktail kit to-go from Arabella. This month’s limited edition set includes three cocktails to celebrate October highlighting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pumpkin Spice everything, and Halloween. Kits are available for pick-up Thursday-Saturday all October, with only five sets available per day.

Exclusive Loop deals, recommendations, and news direct from Chicago Loop Alliance.