Join us in Carbondale for spooky season!

Special Film Screening: Ghostbusters

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Special Film Screening: The Substance (10pm)

Screening at 10PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Special Film Screening: I Saw the TV Glow

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Special Film Screening: Hocus Pocus

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Halloween Stained Glass

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Together we're going to create Halloween stained glass art! No previous experience required to begin crafting, we provide all needed supplies and will help each step of the way. You can choose between making either a pumpkin or a bat!

The Pumpkin Glow

5:30-9:30PM

A NIGHTTIME JACK-O-LANTERN HIKE HELD AT GREEN EARTH'S OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE. Enjoy Hayrides, Live Music, Concessions, and of course, the Magical Glow Trail!

Location: Green Earth's Oakland Nature Preserve

The Pumpkin Glow

5:30-9:30PM

A NIGHTTIME JACK-O-LANTERN HIKE HELD AT GREEN EARTH'S OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE. Enjoy Hayrides, Live Music, Concessions, and of course, the Magical Glow Trail!

Location: Green Earth's Oakland Nature Preserve

Special Film Screening: Poltergeist

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Halloween Art Projects for Kids

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Make and Take Kids' Art Projects

Location: Artspace at 607 S Illinois, on the Front Patio

The Great Carbondale Pumpkin Race

2pm (Register from 1pm – 1:45pm)

A beloved fall tradition, the Great Carbondale Pumpkin Race is packed with fun, creativity, and community spirit! Join us for an afternoon of racing pumpkins, big laughs, and friendly competition—all for a good cause. Entry is free, and the winner of the open races will take home a $100 grand prize. Looking for a bigger challenge? Enter the Mayer Branding Grand Prix for just $10 and race for a $250 prize! Expect high-energy races, fun designs, a costume parade and plenty of pumpkin-smashing excitement courtesy of the Mallet-O-Justice. Proceeds benefit the Science Center and SI Reads. Don’t miss the action!

Location: Mill St. Underpass, Carbondale, IL (Rain location: Carbondale Park District - Lakeland Center, 925 S. Giant City Road)

The Pumpkin Glow

5:30-9:30PM

A NIGHTTIME JACK-O-LANTERN HIKE HELD AT GREEN EARTH'S OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE. Enjoy Hayrides, Live Music, Concessions, and of course, the Magical Glow Trail!

Location: Green Earth's Oakland Nature Preserve

Special Film Screening: Videodrome

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Haunted Hollow 2025

11am-4pm

Our fall family fun festival returns! Haunted Hollow is the perfect mix of laughs and gasps, a Halloween-themed event with both spooky fun and safe, family-friendly activities. Costumes are encouraged, and the event will happen rain or shine, so dress for the weather and bring your fall spirit! Touch of Nature is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Location: SIU's Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center

CPKD Presents: Halloween Movie Night

6:30 pm

Join the Carbondale Park District for a spellbinding evening under the stars! We're bringing the Halloween spirit to life with a special outdoor screening of Practical Magic — a heartwarming tale of sisterhood, spells, and a dash of romance. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and favorite fall snacks to enjoy this magical classic on our giant outdoor movie screen.

Location: Parrish Park

Candy Walk

3pm-6pm

Friday October 24th 3pm-6pm Carbondale’s downtown businesses will have lots of candy to hand out! All the little ghosts and goblins are welcome to walk around downtown and fill their treat bags. For a map of participating businesses check the Carbondale Main Street Facebook page.

Location: Downtown Carbondale

Dia de Los Muertos Community Altar

Unveiling during Candy Walk

Join SI CABE and The Varsity in celebrating those we have lost. Our community altar in traditional Dia de Los Muertos style will feature contributions from community members to celebrate as many as we can.

Location: The Varsity Center

Carbondale Halloween Homecoming

3-10 PM

Return home for Carbondale’s biggest music street festival!

Presented by: Hangar 9, City of Carbondale, SIU Alumni Association, Carbondale Main Street, Student Program Council, River Radio.
Join us on Carbondale’s iconic Strip for an unforgettable night of music, food, and fun! Two stages will showcase high-energy bands, turning the heart of the street into one massive concert venue. The festival atmosphere will spill across the Strip with local vendors, food trucks, carnival games, and even a rock-climbing wall. Don’t forget to sign up for the costume contest! All ages are encouraged and welcome to join the competition fun!

Location: Illinois Avenue will be closed from College to Elm Street

ARTS N C@#$ CARNIVAL

10am-7pm

Free community event showcasing local artisan’s, vendors, music, entertainment, food trucks with activities for all and more! Held outdoors-carnival style, in the heart of Downtown Carbondale.

Location: THRIFT SHOP - 215 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL

Pumpkin Mosaics

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Time to level up your home or garden area with a mosaic fall pumpkin! During this class we will teach you the basics of creating mosaics, supply you with everything you need, and be there every step of the way to help you create a personalized work of art.

Location: 715 S University Ave. at Project Human X Art Gallery

Crushed Glass, Crystal, and Resin Pumpkins Workshop

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Create Shimmering Pumpkins with Crystals, Crushed Glass, Resin, & More! Join us for a creative event where we combine the beauty of glass, crystals, and resin to create unique artwork. This is a perfect art project to celebrate the Fall Season, plus they make amazing gifts.

Special Film Screening: The Exorcist

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Special Film Screening: Halloween

Bar at 6PM, Screening at 7PM

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

Special Film Screening: Rocky Horror Picture Show (Midnight)

Screening at Midnight

Special movie screenings in October to celebrate the spooky season, from new releases to cult classics and more!

Location: The Varsity, downtown at 418 S. Illinois Ave.

2025 Dome Glow: Día de los Muertos

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The 3rd annual Davey Dome Glow honors architect, professor, and past Fuller Dome president Jon Davey, who began the tradition of displaying intricately carved pumpkins inspired by architectural wonders. Today, the Dome Glow continues that spirit with pumpkins that surprise, inspire, and go beyond the ordinary.

Location: Bucky Fuller Dome Home, 407 S. Forest Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901

2025 Dome Glow: Día de los Muertos

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The 3rd annual Davey Dome Glow honors architect, professor, and past Fuller Dome president Jon Davey, who began the tradition of displaying intricately carved pumpkins inspired by architectural wonders. Today, the Dome Glow continues that spirit with pumpkins that surprise, inspire, and go beyond the ordinary.

Location: Bucky Fuller Dome Home, 407 S. Forest Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901

Pumpkin Smash at Jackson County Extension Office

10:00 AM

Decorate now, recycle later.
Whether picking out pumpkins from a field or carving fun faces into them with friends, pumpkins show everyone that it’s the fall season. What happens when it’s time to say goodbye as they melt on the porch?

Green up Halloween by recycling pumpkins into compost at a free, outdoor Pumpkin Smash offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., November 8, at Jackson County Extension Office.

Our Pumpkin Smash offers a variety of fun and educational opportunities for everyone:

Hands-on pumpkin smash activities
Additional activities for kids
Bring a large container and take some compost home
Live food demonstration and samples
Food truck and drink kiosk
If you cannot stay for the event, you can drop off pumpkins the day of the event. Please have pumpkins free of all contaminants. No candles, stickers, glitter, or other synthetic materials.

No cost or registration is required to attend. For questions, contact Lynn Heins at hensl@illinois.edu or (618) 687-1727

Location: 402 Ava RD., Murphysboro, IL 62966