Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade Chicago 2026 With Kids

Thinking about bringing the family downtown for the Arts in the Dark parade on Saturday the 24th. My kids are 6 and 9. We'd likely drive in from the burbs and try to park in the Millennium Park garage. My wife is worried it might be too scary or intense for the 6-year-old. The website says family friendly, but you never know. Is it more artistic puppets and dancers, or is it a lot of creepy costuming? Also, what's the crowd situation like on State Street, and is it a total nightmare getting out of the garage and back onto the Kennedy afterwards?

We take our kids every year! Mine are 7 and 10. It is not scary at all, it's very focused on art from groups like the Joffrey Ballet and various cultural centers. Think giant, beautiful puppets, drumlines, and dancers with lights. It's not a horror show. For crowds, my advice is to find a spot south of Ida B. Wells Drive on Columbus. It's always a little thinner down there. Getting out is slow, no way around it. We usually walk over to grab hot chocolate for 30-40 minutes after it ends to let the initial garage rush die down.

I'd say it depends on the kid. It's not scary-creepy but it is very loud and can be a sensory overload for little ones. Plus it ends late. I've definitely seen some younger kids having a meltdown by the finale. We usually go with friends and grab drinks in the Loop afterwards. I think your 9-year-old would be into it, but the 6-year-old might be a toss-up. It's a long time to stand out in the cold.

Honestly, driving for a downtown parade on a Saturday night sounds awful. You're going to pay at least $40 for that garage spot and then sit in gridlock on Lower Wacker just to get to 90/94. If you're coming from Elk Grove, why not take the Metra to Ogilvie and just walk over? The train back will be full, for sure, but it beats sitting in your car for an hour going nowhere.

Maria is right about the traffic. We drove in for it two years ago and it took us almost an hour to get from the garage near Millennium Park to the Ohio Street ramp. My husband was so frustrated he said never again. The parade was neat, but the parking and traffic experience really soured the whole night for us. If you do drive, pack your patience.

This is all extremely helpful, thank you. The driving warnings are loud and clear. We were worried about getting the kids home late on the train, but sitting in a garage sounds way worse. I think we are going to try taking the Metra in, and I appreciate the tip about standing south of Ida B Wells. If the 6-year-old gets overwhelmed we can always duck out early. Thanks again, everyone.

The Metra move is definitely the right call from Elk Grove. I take the Blue Line into the Loop all the time and parking downtown for events is genuinely a trap no matter what garage you use. You'll be way better off just dealing with a crowded train ride home than burning an hour watching taillights on Lower Wacker.