Fall Bucket List and Spooky Thrills

The only way to beat the autumn chill that’s better than snuggling up in your favorite sweater… is snuggling up in your favorite sweater while sipping on a pumpkin spice coffee or apple cider. These classics will be available at Original County Donuts and Blue Box Café. Give them a call to check when these fall favorites are coming back! Oh and we have to mention trying a maple bourbon iced or hot coffee from Eastside Café in East Dundee. It’s such a unique flavor but understandably a fall classic once you taste it!

Getting to pick your pumpkin is a must for the ultimate fall experience. Each patch offers a different experience. The Pumpkin Wagon is all about the pumpkins. Decorating, painting or eating available pumpkins is an option with all the variety that’s offered. For a agritourism experience head over to Enjoy Pioneer Farm to visit the animals, pick veggies and walk the patch to pick your pumpkins. Or you can also head to Goebbert’s Farm where there are also veggies picking opportunities as well as the apple orchard and attractions for kids.

Whether you’re preparing for Halloween or looking for a quick fix for your sweet tooth, candy stores bring out the fall décor and candy that will really get you into the spirit of the season. Around the Corner Candy in West Dundee is a fan favorite for their candy, chocolates, seasonal decorations and they also have caramel apples!

There are quite a few events happening in the Elgin Area this fall and many are free to attend! Don’t miss the annual Nightmare on Chicago Street on October 19! This spooky festival for folks of all ages includes live bands and about 18,000 zombie friends sure to ring in the fall season!

Here are some of the events happening this year.

See All the Fall Festivals and Spooky Events

Seeing the leaves change colors is fall’s most beautiful features. It’s a great time for a romantic walk or an afternoon picnic with the family. One of the best spots to go to take in the sights is the Fox River Bike Trail. Running through multiple preserves and Elgin Area communities you can see all of fall’s beauty, both natural and through the decorations set out. Some other options are:

• Festival Park
• Burnidge Forest Preserve
• Randall Oaks Park
• Jon J Duerr Forest Preserve
• Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve
• See All Elgin Area Parks and Trails
• See All Elgin Area Forest Preserves

The fall season offers some of the most delicious and savory dishes like chili and other soups and stews. And don’t get us started on the treats and desserts! Between the pies, cobblers and apple cider donuts picking a favorite isn’t possible. Here’s a list of fan favorite seasonal offerings from Elgin Area businesses:

Chili at Elgin Public House

Apple cider donuts at Country Donuts

Caramel apples at Goebbert’s Farm

Assorted baked good at Herb’s Bakery

Various fall flavors of ice cream at Milk House

Themed martinis at the Martini Room

Local Oktoberfest brew at Black and Gray Brewing

Every year we can expect scary movies to hit the theatres. If you love going to the movies stop by Marcus Cinemas in Elgin, Cinema 12 Classic Cinemas in Carpentersville or the Cinemark Spring Hill Mall and XD in West Dundee. But getting cozy in your pjs and hunkering down for a movie is also perfect fall activity. Here are some recommendations if you choose to stay in:

Scary Movies

• The Exorcist (1973)
• IT (2017)
• The Shining (1980)
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• The Halloween Series

Spooky Movies

• Labyrinth (1986)
• The Village (2004)
• Edward Scissorhands (1990)
• The Haunted Mansion (2003)
• Beetlejuice (1988)

Kid Friendly

• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
• Halloweentown (1998)
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
• Casper (1995)