With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, Lakeview is getting ready to see Halsted Street packed with every costume imaginable. The Northalsted Halloween Parade 2026 is the 30th edition, and to mark the milestone the organizers have stretched it into an all-day event. The official name is the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade, but locals mostly just call it Northalsted. It’s free, it’s open to all ages, and the organizers call it Chicago’s only Halloween night parade. If you’re after a Halloween parade in Chicago that falls on the actual holiday, this is the one. Below you’ll find the date, schedule, and route, plus how to get in and out without the hassle.
Northalsted Halloween Parade 2026 Date and Schedule
Save the date: Saturday, October 31, 2026. Because it’s the 30th anniversary, the fun starts well before the parade does. The Haunted Halsted Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a section of North Halsted closed off for pedestrians only. The parade takes over from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by the costume contest and post-parade party from 8 to 10 p.m. Watching is free. The organizers also say the parade goes ahead in rain or snow, so bad weather is no reason to stay home.
Northalsted Halloween Parade Time: What Happens When
Start with the daytime fest. Once 11 a.m. hits, cars are out and people are in: five blocks of North Halsted, running from Aldine to Brompton, become one big block party. Kids get a zone with games, Halloween crafts, and inflatables, and there’s daytime trick-or-treating at more than 25 Halsted Street businesses. Expect over fifty vendor booths, live music, and street performers. Beer, spirits, and fall toddies are for sale too, for guests 21 and up with a valid ID.
At 6 p.m., things change fast. Halsted gets cleared for the parade, and anyone at the fest has to move to the sidewalks behind the barricades. Around the same time, costume contest sign-up and parade staging are both based at 3211 N. Halsted. The parade steps off at 7 p.m. at Halsted and Belmont and finishes around 8 p.m. at Halsted and Brompton. The costume contest and party begin at 8 p.m., and everything wraps up at 10.
One warning about start times. A few outdated listings online still say 6:30 or 7:30 p.m. Trust the organizers’ 2026 schedule instead, which lists 7 p.m.
Northalsted Halloween Parade Route: Belmont to Brompton
The route is short. The parade steps off at Halsted and Belmont, heads north, and finishes at Halsted and Brompton. That’s the stretch of North Halsted in the heart of Northalsted, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ district, with bars, restaurants, and shops lining both sides. A few listings describe the route running all the way up to Addison, but the organizers’ 2026 page puts the finish at Brompton.
Where to watch? The sidewalks behind the barricades, and the earlier you claim a spot, the better. Once Halsted clears at 6 p.m., the best curb spots go quickly. If you want a drink or a bite first, the businesses along Halsted stay open all night.
What to Expect at the Northalsted Halloween Parade Chicago
More than 300 costumed participants march every year, and thousands of onlookers come to watch. The parade includes decorated vehicles from the Windy City Jeep Club, plus the Lakeside Pride Marching Band, the Chicago Thriller flash mob, the Chicago Spirit Brigade pep squad, and the Windy City Rollers. Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers are part of the show, and the parade ends with a pyrotechnic display from them. Fodor’s has ranked it among the top ten Halloween celebrations in the US, according to the organizers.
The daytime fest has a 360-degree camera set up for costume photos too, handy if you came solo and still want a great shot. It’s also one of those events where the crowd is half the fun. Plenty of people dress up just to stand on the sidewalk. If you’re going, wear a costume. You’ll fit right in.
Costume Contest: Categories, Prizes, and How to Enter
The costume contest gives out $4,000 in total cash prizes across five categories: Character, Creative, Scary, Group, and Youth. First place wins $500 in every category, with $200 going to second and $100 to third. Entering costs $5, and all ages can take part. You can pre-register online, or sign up the day of at the registration tent at 3211 N. Halsted, starting at 2 p.m.
The contest itself happens after the parade. Judges pick finalists from each category, and those finalists go on stage at the NoHa parking lot, 3514 N. Halsted, at 8 p.m. Live music, DJs, and drag performances finish off the night, while bars up and down Halsted keep their own Halloween parties going.
More Chicago Halloween Events 2026 Around the Parade
Northalsted has a lot going on in October. On Saturday, October 24, the Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl sends dogs and their owners on a trick-or-treat route. That same evening, Arts in the Dark brings a free parade to Columbus Drive in Grant Park from 6 to 8 p.m. And on Halloween itself, the Upside Down Halloween Parade runs from noon to 2 p.m. in Washington Park, so you could catch a daytime parade and the Northalsted one that night. For anyone building a month of Chicago Halloween events 2026 has to offer, that’s a solid start.
Getting to the Northalsted Halloween Parade
Plan on not driving. Halsted is closed to cars for the fest and the parade, and the organizers have posted a street parking notice for Halsted that runs from 7 a.m. Saturday through 2 a.m. Sunday. Check the exact blocks on the Northalsted website before you park anywhere nearby.
The CTA is the easiest option. Belmont station, on the Red, Brown, and Purple lines, is the nearest hub. Rideshare works too, but set your pickup a block or two east or west of Halsted, away from the closures, because drivers can’t get onto the closed stretch.
That’s where booking ahead with Chi Town Black Cars helps. A point-to-point car service can drop you at a spot outside the closures and pick you up from the same area after the contest. Since closed streets are closed to every vehicle, agree on that spot with the driver beforehand.
Planning to do the whole day, fest at noon, parade at 7, contest after? An hourly car service keeps one driver with your group, so you don’t have to hunt for a ride at 10 p.m. with everyone else. A black car service works well for a group in costume, since one ride holds everyone. Visiting for Halloween weekend? Airport transfers from O’Hare or Midway get you to your hotel, and the night fits right alongside the other special event bookings Chi Town handles all year.
Tips for the Northalsted Halloween Parade 2026
Get there early. The fest starts at 11 a.m., and the sidewalks fill up well before 7.
Dress for the weather. You’ll be standing outside for hours, and the parade runs rain or snow.
Bring your ID. Alcohol at the fest is for guests 21 and up.
Pre-register if you’re entering the contest. It saves time, though same-day entries open at 2 p.m.
Sort out your ride home before you leave the house. After the contest, plenty of people are heading out at once.
Final Thoughts on the Northalsted Halloween Parade 2026
After 30 years, the Northalsted Halloween Parade remains one of the best ways to spend Halloween night in Chicago. The all-day fest is a new addition this year, the parade is as loud and creative as ever, and the contest at the end gives everyone something to cheer for. Whether you come for the daytime block party, the 7 p.m. parade, or the costumes alone, there’s a reason people keep coming back year after year.
A little planning makes the night much easier. The fest opens at 11 a.m., Halsted clears at 6 p.m., and the best curb spots go quickly, so arriving early pays off. Bring your ID if you want a drink, dress for the weather since the parade runs rain or snow, and pre-register if you’re entering the contest. And wear a costume. Half the fun of this event is the crowd, and you’ll fit right in.
Getting there and getting home is the part that catches people off guard. Halsted is closed to cars, so take the CTA to Belmont or set your pickup a block or two away from the closures. If you’d rather ride, book your ride with Chi Town Black Cars ahead of time and agree on a drop-off spot outside the closures, so you’re not hunting for a ride at 10 p.m. with everyone else. Then the night stays all about the costumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Northalsted Halloween Parade 2026?
It’s on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The parade runs from 7 to 8 p.m., and the day also includes an all-day fest from 11 a.m. and a costume contest afterward.
Where does the parade start and end?
It begins at Halsted and Belmont and finishes at Halsted and Brompton in Lakeview.
Is the Northalsted Halloween Parade free?
Yes, watching is free and open to all ages. It costs $5 to enter the costume contest.
What time should I get there?
The fest opens at 11 a.m. For the parade, try to have your sidewalk spot before 6 p.m., when Halsted is cleared.
Is it family-friendly?
Yes. It’s a free, all-ages event, with a kids zone and daytime trick-or-treating at the fest, plus a Youth category in the costume contest. Alcohol at the fest is only for guests 21 and up.
What’s the best way to get there?
Ride the CTA to Belmont, or book a private car and agree on a drop-off point outside the closures.