Halloween Train Rides in Illinois (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 21 min read

The largest railway museum in the country sits in Union, Illinois, and on two more October weekends it sends Halloween-themed streetcars out to a pumpkin patch where farm hands help kids pick one. That ride anchors this Illinois page of our state-by-state guide to Halloween trains for kids. As of October 14, four Illinois rides still have 2026 dates ahead: two daytime-friendly pumpkin and costume rides and two evening rides that lean spooky but stay mild.

Three of the four sit within an hour or so of the Loop, out in McHenry and Kane counties along the Fox River. The fourth is the little zoo train at Scovill Zoo in Decatur, which is the pick for central Illinois families who would rather not drive to Chicago on a Saturday.

Some details below are still unconfirmed by the operators, mostly prices and times for the evening rides. If a museum has not published a detail yet, this page tells you that plainly.

The short version

  • Pumpkin and costume rides: From Chicago or Rockford, the Illinois Railway Museum Pumpkin Train is the classic daytime choice, with streetcars to a pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 and a treat for kids in costume.
  • From Peoria, Springfield or Champaign, Boo at the Zoo in Decatur is the closer option, and it has the most dates left of anything in Illinois, running through Halloween itself.
  • Haunted rides: For kids who want a little spook after dark, the Ghost Story Train in South Elgin trolleys out to a campfire on Saturday nights, Oct 17 and Oct 24, and is the nearer of the two to the city.
  • The Blackberry Farm Haunted Train Ride in Aurora runs one night only, Friday Oct 23, and is aimed at kids 4 to 10 with flashlights and s'mores.

Neither evening ride is a scare attraction; both are pitched at families, which is why we still filed them as haunted rather than pumpkin rides.

Watercolor of a red train car on a cliffside track heading into a dark tunnel
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Look inside the book

A dark tunnel, a brave corgi. Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi rides into a dark tunnel, gets a little scared, and comes out to a big bright light and happy cheers. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to an Illinois pumpkin train.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Compare every Illinois Halloween train side by side

Every ride on this page in one table: type, dates left, the lowest posted ticket price, ride length, who it suits and whether tickets are still on sale. Tap a ride for the full details.

RideTypeDates leftTicketsLengthBest forStatus
Pumpkin Train at the Illinois Railway MuseumUnionPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $16Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Ghost Story Train at the Fox River Trolley MuseumSouth ElginHauntedOct 17 to Oct 24 (2 dates)See railroadNot postedOlder kids who like spookyOn sale
Haunted Train Ride at Blackberry FarmAuroraHauntedFri Oct 23From $16Not postedAges 4 to 10On sale
Boo at the Zoo Train at Scovill ZooDecaturPumpkin and costumeOct 16 to Oct 31 (10 dates)From $4.50Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

Illinois Halloween train calendar: what runs which day

Every remaining date for every ride on this page, from today through Halloween weekend. Green is a gentle pumpkin and costume ride, blue is a haunted ride. Tap a ride to jump to its details.

Union: Pumpkin Train at the Illinois Railway Museum

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $16Dates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This is a daytime streetcar ride, not a steam train. Halloween-themed streetcars carry families out to the museum's own pumpkin patch, where farm hands help kids choose a pumpkin, and there are photo spots with life-size cutouts, an antique farm tractor and a hay wagon. Kids who come in costume get a special treat.

Because it runs on general admission, the rest of the campus is open too, so a small train fan can spend the afternoon among the exhibits and eat at the Central Diner or a picnic area. Two honest caveats: the museum has not said whether the pumpkin costs extra, and its event page and hours page list different train times, so check before you leave.

Pumpkin Train at the Illinois Railway Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin streetcar ride, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
No dates shown as sold out on the event page as of Oct 13
Times
Event page: museum open 10 AM to 5 PM, last train to the pumpkin patch at 3:30 PM. The hours page lists October electric trains hourly from 11 AM to 3 PM, so confirm on the day.
Ride length
The museum has not posted a ride length; check the operator site
What's included
Streetcar ride to the pumpkin patch, help picking a pumpkin, photo spots, a treat for kids in costume, and the rest of the museum campus. Food at the Central Diner is extra.
Price
General admission: adults (18 to 64) $20, seniors (65+) $18, youth (13 to 17) $18, children (2 to 12) $16, under 2 free. Special event days may be priced differently, and it is not confirmed whether the pumpkin is included.
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; it is a daytime family event
Costumes
Encouraged. Kids in costume get a special treat.
Strollers
The museum has not posted a stroller policy, so check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Illinois Railway Museum main campus, 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL 60180

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

South Elgin: Ghost Story Train at the Fox River Trolley Museum

Best for: Older kids who like spookyDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 24

An evening trolley ride from the Castlemuir depot out to what the museum calls a haunted forest preserve, where riders gather for campfire ghost stories, treats from Margie's Girls' Kitchen and a sing-along led by a ghostly musician. The museum bills it as an evening of family friendly frights, so think storytelling around a fire rather than people jumping out of the dark.

New for 2026 is a paranormal walk through the graves in the preserve, which the museum describes as for the grown-ups. Plenty is still unconfirmed: the dates come from the museum's 2026 calendar draft (the event page does not print them), and times and prices are sold through a ticket widget that does not show them publicly. The museum's separate Paranormal Night sold out in 2025, so do not wait on this one.

Ghost Story Train at the Fox River Trolley Museum at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Evening ghost story trolley ride, billed as family friendly frights
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 and Sat Oct 24 (from the museum's 2026 calendar draft; confirm on the event page)
Tickets
Sold-out status not posted; check the operator site
Times
Evening; exact departure times not posted, check the operator site
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Evening trolley ride, campfire ghost stories, treats from Margie's Girls' Kitchen, a campfire sing-along with a ghostly musician, and a new grown-ups' paranormal walk through the graves
Price
Not posted publicly; check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the museum calls it family friendly frights, and the grave walk is for adults
Costumes
The museum says costumes are welcome
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Castlemuir depot, 365 S LaFox Street (Illinois Route 31), South Elgin, IL 60177

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Aurora: Haunted Train Ride at Blackberry Farm

Best for: Ages 4 to 10From $16Dates left: Oct 23

One Friday evening at the Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm, riders are told to bring flashlights for a haunted ride on the farm's train, then wind down with a spooky craft, s'mores at a bonfire, and wagon and carousel rides. The recommended age range is 4 to 10, which tells you how scary it is meant to be: dark and silly, built for preschoolers through fourth graders.

The details here come from a Naperville Magazine event listing and a park district roundup, because the farm's own site could not be checked. Every rider ages 1 and up needs a ticket, adults included. Confirm the booking link, costume rules and parking on the Blackberry Farm site before you go.

Haunted Train Ride at Blackberry Farm at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Evening flashlight train ride, recommended ages 4 to 10
Dates left
Fri Oct 23
Tickets
Sold-out status not posted; check the operator site
Times
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Haunted train ride (bring a flashlight), spooky craft, s'mores at a bonfire, wagon and carousel rides
Price
$16 per ticket for everyone ages 1 and up, adults included
Ages and scare level
Recommended ages 4 to 10
Costumes
Costume rules not posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, IL

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Decatur: Boo at the Zoo Train at Scovill Zoo

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $4.50Dates left: Oct 16 to Oct 31

This is the zoo's own small train, folded into a trick-or-treat event around the decorated grounds. The Decatur Park District calls it a non-extended train ride, so expect a short loop, and riders are invited to howl along the way, which most three-year-olds will happily do at full volume. Weeknight sessions run into the dark, but nothing about it is billed as scary.

The train and carousel are separate tickets from zoo admission, and reservations are required. On Saturday Oct 17 and Saturday Oct 24, the first hour (1 to 2 PM) is a Sensory Friendly Hour with quieter train and carousel rides, a real help for kids who melt down in crowds or noise.

Boo at the Zoo Train at Scovill Zoo at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Zoo train ride at a family trick-or-treat event, not scary
Dates left
Fri Oct 16, Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Thu Oct 22, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Thu Oct 29, Fri Oct 30 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Tickets on sale now and reservations required; sold-out status not posted
Times
Thu and Fri 5:30 to 8 PM; Sat Oct 17 and 24, 1 to 8 PM; Sundays 1 to 7 PM; Sat Oct 31, 1 to 6 PM. Sensory Friendly Hour Oct 17 and 24, 1 to 2 PM.
Ride length
A short, non-extended train ride; exact length not stated
What's included
Admission with treats covers trick-or-treating around the zoo. The train and carousel are separate tickets.
Price
Admission $7.25 with treats or $5.75 without; train $4.50 ($4.00 for Friends of the Zoo); carousel $3.50 ($3.00 FOZ). Infant pricing not stated.
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; it is a family trick-or-treat event
Costumes
Costume rules not posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Scovill Zoo, 71 S. Country Club Road, Decatur, IL 62521

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Already wrapped for 2026

  • Autumn Limited, Monticello Railway Museum, Monticello: A pumpkin-to-take-home ride that ran Sept 26 and 27 this year, well before Halloween, so look for it again in early fall 2027.

Will the Ghost Trolley or the Flashlight Train Be Too Much for a Preschooler?

The two daytime-friendly options are easy calls. The Illinois Railway Museum streetcars run in the afternoon and end in a pumpkin patch, and the Scovill Zoo train is a short loop where the scariest thing is a car full of kids howling. If your child is sensitive to noise, book the Decatur Sensory Friendly Hour on Oct 17 or 24.

The evening rides are where it gets dark, literally. Blackberry Farm tells riders to bring flashlights, which hands a nervous four-year-old something to hold and control, and the farm recommends the ride for ages 4 to 10. The Fox River Ghost Story Train is mostly about sitting around a campfire hearing stories, so the spook comes from words, not actors. Tell your child ahead of time: it will be dark, the stories are pretend, and there are s'mores or treats at the end. Skip the grown-ups' grave walk with little ones.

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

When my mom dreamed up Rally's story, she gave him a dark tunnel where he couldn't see a thing. He was scared, riding along with Mom and Dad, until a big bright light showed up and his big ears caught happy cheers. A flashlight ride like the one at Blackberry Farm has that same shape: a little dark, then a bonfire waiting. You can read how my mom's corgi story became a book.

If your little one needs a warm-up, print a few free Rally pages to color before the ride and talk about what is on the other side of the dark.

Drive Times to Union, South Elgin, Aurora and Decatur From Chicago, Rockford and Peoria

These are rough weekend estimates without traffic delays, so add time if you are leaving the city on a Saturday morning.

Drive times, no traffic

Union
about 1 hr 15 min from Chicago (Loop); about 45 min from Rockford; about 2 hr 40 min from Peoria
South Elgin
about 50 min from Chicago (Loop); about 55 min from Rockford; about 2 hr 30 min from Peoria
Aurora
about 55 min from Chicago (Loop); about 1 hr 20 min from Rockford; about 2 hr 15 min from Peoria
Decatur
about 2 hr 50 min from Chicago (Loop); about 3 hr 15 min from Rockford; about 1 hr 30 min from Peoria

Fox Valley Nights Get Cold Fast in Late October

In northern Illinois, the second half of October usually brings afternoon highs in the 50s to low 60s, then evenings that drop into the 40s and sometimes the 30s by the last week. Sunset lands around 6:00 to 6:15 PM, and daylight saving time does not end until Nov 1, so both evening rides in South Elgin and Aurora start at or after dusk.

For the daytime pumpkin streetcars in Union, a jacket is usually enough. For the campfire trolley or the flashlight ride, dress small kids like it is a Friday night football game: hat, layers under the costume and a blanket for the ride back. Decatur runs a few degrees warmer than the Chicago suburbs, but the Thursday and Friday Boo at the Zoo nights still turn cool once the sun goes down.

Notes for Illinois Parents Before You Buy Tickets

  • At the Illinois Railway Museum, the event page says the last train to the pumpkin patch leaves at 3:30 PM, but the hours page lists hourly electric trains from 11 AM to 3 PM. Plan a late-morning arrival so either schedule works.
  • Put the kids in costume for Union: the museum gives a special treat to children who come dressed up. Fox River Trolley also says costumes are welcome.
  • Blackberry Farm charges $16 for everyone ages 1 and up, parents included, so a family of four is $64. Pack a flashlight per kid.
  • Scovill Zoo requires reservations, and the train and carousel are separate from admission. Decide ahead whether you want admission with treats ($7.25) or without ($5.75).
  • Fox River Trolley sells the Ghost Story Train through a ticket widget and has not published 2026 prices or times. Its separate Paranormal Night sold out in 2025, so book once times appear.
  • None of the four operators has posted a stroller or parking policy for these events, so check before you pack the big stroller.
  • The new paranormal grave walk at the Ghost Story Train is described as for the grown-ups. Plan for one parent to stay by the campfire with younger kids.

When Wisconsin or Michigan Is the Better Halloween Train Trip

For the North Shore and northwest suburbs, the closest daytime trick-or-treat train outside Illinois is in Wisconsin: the East Troy Railroad Museum runs Trick or Treat Trains in southern Wisconsin about 1 hr 30 min from the Loop, and the Little Amerricka Pumpkin Train in Marshall is another pumpkin ride just over the line. Families on the east side of the metro can also look around the lake at our Michigan pumpkin and haunted train list, which is a longer drive and works better as a weekend trip.

Southern Illinois families are closer to Missouri than to anything in the Chicago area, but this guide does not cover Missouri rides yet.

Rally’s Spooky Train Ride: Halloween shirts

The tunnel page from the book, Rally on his red seat in the dark, is printed on black shirts in sizes for the whole family, from baby to 5XL. A matching set makes for easy pumpkin train photos and an easy costume under a jacket. See everything in the Rally shop.

A train book for the ride

For a different kind of train day with kids, no costumes required, ride the Hiawatha from Chicago to Milwaukee or take the Lincoln Service downstate.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the line at the depot or the drive home.

Get the free coloring pages for Union
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents, including one dark tunnel he is brave enough to ride through. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Sources

Checked against each railroad’s own pages and ticket calendars on October 14, 2026. Dates, prices and policies change, so confirm with the railroad before you go.

What Illinois Parents Are Asking About Pumpkin and Ghost Trains This Year

What Halloween events are there for kids in Union, Illinois?

One family Halloween event in Union is the Pumpkin Train at the Illinois Railway Museum, a gentle daytime pumpkin ride. Halloween-themed streetcars carry riders out to the museum's pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. It runs on general admission, $20 for adults, $16 for kids 2 to 12 and free under 2, though special event days may be priced differently. Kids who show up in costume get a special treat.

Are there any Halloween events in South Elgin, Illinois for families this October?

South Elgin's Halloween train is the Ghost Story Train at the Fox River Trolley Museum, a mild haunted ride the museum bills as family friendly frights. An evening trolley heads out to a forest preserve campfire for ghost stories, treats and a sing-along with a ghostly musician. The museum's calendar draft lists Saturdays Oct 17 and 24. The railroad has not posted prices or departure times, so check the operator site.

What is there to do for Halloween in Aurora, Illinois with kids?

One family Halloween event in Aurora is the Haunted Train Ride at Blackberry Farm, a mild haunted flashlight ride recommended for ages 4 to 10. It runs one night only, Friday Oct 23, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Tickets are $16 for everyone ages 1 and up, adults included. After the ride come a spooky craft, s'mores at a bonfire, and wagon and carousel rides, so pack a flashlight for each child.

What are the Halloween events for families in Decatur, IL?

One family Halloween event in Decatur is Boo at the Zoo at Scovill Zoo, where the little zoo train is a gentle trick-or-treat ride rather than a scary one. As of October 14 it has ten dates left, Oct 16 through Oct 31. The train is $4.50 on top of admission ($7.25 with treats, $5.75 without), and reservations are required. Riders are invited to howl, and Oct 17 and 24 open with a Sensory Friendly Hour from 1 to 2 PM.

Is there a pumpkin patch train in Union, Illinois?

Yes. The Illinois Railway Museum's Pumpkin Train takes families by Halloween-themed streetcar to the museum's own pumpkin patch, where farm hands help kids choose a pumpkin. Photo spots include life-size cutouts, an antique farm tractor and a hay wagon. The museum has not said whether the pumpkin is part of general admission or costs extra, so check the operator site. The remaining dates are Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

What are Halloween events for kids near Chicago, Illinois?

Three Halloween train rides sit within about an hour or so of the Loop. The Fox River Trolley Ghost Story Train in South Elgin, a mild haunted campfire ride, is about 50 minutes away on Oct 17 and 24. Blackberry Farm's flashlight Haunted Train Ride in Aurora is about 55 minutes away on Oct 23. The Illinois Railway Museum pumpkin streetcars in Union are about 1 hour 15 minutes away on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

What Halloween things can kids do near Rockford, Illinois?

The closest Halloween train to Rockford is the Illinois Railway Museum Pumpkin Train in Union, about 45 minutes away. It is a daytime streetcar ride to a pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with a treat for kids in costume. For an evening outing, the Fox River Trolley Ghost Story Train in South Elgin is about 55 minutes away on Oct 17 and 24, a mild haunted ride built around campfire ghost stories.

Are there Halloween train rides for kids near Peoria, Illinois?

The nearest one is Boo at the Zoo at Scovill Zoo in Decatur, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Peoria. It is a gentle trick-or-treat event with a short zoo train ride ($4.50, separate from admission) on ten dates from Oct 16 through Oct 31, and reservations are required. The Chicago-area rides are a longer trip: Blackberry Farm in Aurora is about 2 hours 15 minutes away, and the Illinois Railway Museum in Union about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Can kids wear costumes on the Illinois Railway Museum pumpkin train?

Yes, and the museum actively encourages it. Kids who come to the Pumpkin Train in costume get a special treat. The ride is in the daytime on Halloween-themed streetcars, so a costume over a warm layer works well. Fox River Trolley in South Elgin also says costumes are welcome on its evening Ghost Story Train, if you want a second chance to wear it.

Is the Fox River Trolley ghost story train too scary for a 3 year old?

Probably not, as long as your child is fine with the dark. The museum bills it as family friendly frights, and the main event is campfire ghost stories, treats and a sing-along with a ghostly musician. It runs in the evening, so it will be dark and chilly. The paranormal grave walk is for grown-ups, so keep a three-year-old at the campfire for that part.

Are there still pumpkin train tickets near Chicago for this weekend?

As of October 14, yes. The Illinois Railway Museum event page showed no sold-out dates for its Pumpkin Train on Oct 17 and 18, and it uses general admission, though special event days may be priced differently. The Fox River Ghost Story Train in South Elgin also runs Saturday Oct 17, but the museum has not posted sold-out status, so check its ticket page early in the week.

Does my 1 year old need a ticket for a Halloween train in Illinois?

It depends on the ride. At the Illinois Railway Museum, children under 2 get in free. Blackberry Farm's Haunted Train Ride is different: everyone ages 1 and up needs a $16 ticket, adults too. Scovill Zoo has not stated infant pricing for Boo at the Zoo, and the Fox River Trolley has not posted prices at all, so ask before you book.

Is there a Halloween train ride near Springfield, Illinois?

The central Illinois option we found is the Boo at the Zoo train at Scovill Zoo in Decatur. It is a short, gentle zoo train ride during a trick-or-treat event, running on ten dates from Oct 16 through Oct 31, with reservations required and a $4.50 train ticket on top of zoo admission. The Monticello Railway Museum pumpkin ride already ran in late September this year, so look for it again next fall.

What should kids wear on an evening Halloween train in Aurora or South Elgin, Illinois?

Dress them for a cold night. Northern Illinois evenings in late October usually fall into the 40s and sometimes the 30s, and sunset comes around 6:00 to 6:15 PM, so both the Blackberry Farm and Fox River Trolley rides happen in the dark. Put warm layers under the costume, add a hat, and bring a blanket for the trip back. For Blackberry Farm, also pack a flashlight for each child.

Kelsey Cecil
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