Fall in Chicago: Not-to-miss events this October

By Caitlin Meeter

West Town Art Walk
This will be an art fair to remember! Flit from store to store on the main artery of West Town (Chicago Avenue) and discover artisanal delights from vintage to outlandish, including food, music, art, fashion and more. One of the last festivals of the season, the West Town Art Walk reminds Chicagoans that winter is really only a few months long.
Dates: October 3-4
Location: Chicago Avenue and Oakley
www.WestTownArtWalk.com

Great Chicago Fire Festival
1871 was a pretty bleak year for Chicago, what with the fire and everything. To commemorate the broad shoulders that brought the city back, Red Moon Theatre is putting on a carnival-esque display of flames, rebirth and celebration. Expected to be a visual blast, join in the very first Fire Festival — it’s bound to be a tradition after this spectacle.
Date: Oct. 4
Location: The Chicago River, between State and Columbus, and various neighborhood activities
www.ChicagoFireFestival.com

Lego Build
Let’s face it, all this architecture is pretty inspiring. Luckily, Lego and the Chicago Architectural Foundation have teamed up to give young adults and grown-ups a chance to build conceptual displays out of the famous Lego block. Each session has a theme, so plan accordingly because there are no directions included!
Date: Ongoing
Location: The Chicago Architectural Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave.
www.Architecture.org

Happy Hauntings at the Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago can scare up some fun stuff! This year, bring your whole brood to the Chicago Cultural Center to celebrate Halloween fun. With inspired decor, music and theatre, you’re sure to have a spooktacular time in our city’s former library.
Date: Oct. 23-26
Location: 78 E. Washington

Activate
It’s time to party in the alley. It’s a true Chicago tradition. Activate holds one event per warm month and transforms a downtown alley into a living art gallery. Installations are a secret, though. Their last event was a fashion show that saw upwards of 1,000 guests. Cobblestones acted as the runway.
Date: Oct. 16
www.LoopChicago.com