With deep-rooted traditions that stretch from playful pranks of the 1920s to vibrant festivals honoring local folklore, Halloween in Chicago is a celebration of community and wonder. Families can indulge in family-friendly Halloween activities that fill the city with glowing pumpkins, crisp autumn air, and the thrill of shared stories. This year, Candlelight Halloween Chicago returns, casting a warm flicker of candlelight and enchanting music that elevates the city’s timeless Halloween spirit.
Candlelight: Horror Classics featuring The Conjuring Universe & more
From the haunting whispers of A Nightmare on Elm Street to the heart‑stopping strains of Annabelle, this candlelit concert plunges you into Warner Bros.’ darkest cinematic realms. As the lights dim inside Bohemian National Cemetery and thousands of candles flicker to life, prepare to relive the suspense, the dread, and the breathtaking power of horror’s most unforgettable scores.
Candlelight Halloween at Bohemian National Cemetery
The historic grounds of Bohemian National Cemetery offer an unforgettable and eerie setting for this haunting candlelit experience. Among the silent monuments and timeworn mausoleums, thousands of candles illuminate the night, their glow reflecting off marble, stone, and the autumn air. As music drifts through the cemetery’s peaceful yet haunting atmosphere, each note resonates with history, evoking both beauty and unease—a fitting tribute to the chilling spirit of Halloween.
As the string quartet performs “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns, “Psycho (Prelude)” by Bernard Herrmann, and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg, the interplay of candlelight and the striking architecture conjures an elegant eeriness that heightens every note. These concerts are one of the most popular Halloween experiences in Chicago—plan early, or risk missing out on a night where music and venue merge in haunting harmony.