Happy Halloween 2025! Chicago-area fun kicks off with trick-or-treating, Ravenswood Monster Mash

CHICAGO (WLS) — This Friday night, Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are buzzing with Halloween excitement as families gear up for trick-or-treating and other festive activities.

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin, the Ravenswood Monster Mash on Montrose is the place to be. This lively event marks the inaugural year of the Chamber of Commerce hosting a trick-or-treat experience, involving all the local businesses along Montrose Avenue. The organizers hope that this fun-filled evening will evolve into an annual tradition.

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The event offers a delightful opportunity to gather a stash of candy and enjoy various treats. Notably, Chicago’s Pizza is getting into the spirit with their ghost-themed pizzas, featuring olives for eyes and pepperoni mouths.

Organizers emphasize the event’s goal of fostering community spirit by inviting children and their parents to explore and enjoy the neighborhood together.

“It’s kind of a sure thing. If there’s an event, there will be candy; there will be trick-or-treaters,” said Christina Pecce from the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the guaranteed fun that awaits attendees.

“It’s kind of a sure thing. If there’s an event, there will be candy; there will be trick-or-treaters,” said Christina Pecce with the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

ABC7 has seen a bunch of costumed kids and their parents up and down the street there.

Monsters are also guarding the candy in Northbrook.

More than 70 of them surround Howard Wise’s home, attracting visitors from all over.

“OMG it’s crazy. Love it. Absolutely love it. Glad I’m not living next door to it,” said visitor Ann Furby.

Wise stores the creatures in his basement all year. They come out on Halloween, and then go back into hibernation for a year. It’s a family affair.

“Look at it. Everybody loves it. It’s just a great thing to do,” Wise said.

He has been putting all of this together for more than a decade. However, he says this could be it. His son is going off to college next year, and it is too much on his own. Although, he has a lot of people trying to convince him to keep it going.

In Oak Park, the nice weather drew ghosts, goblins and every other character one could imagine to go door-to-door, asking for treats.

Chopper 7 also found busy trick or treaters going door-to-door in west suburban Hinsdale and in northwest suburban Schaumburg.

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