What time is the Upside Down Halloween Parade in Washington Park?
Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Free, on Russell Drive in Chicago's Washington Park. Get the route, transit options and what to expect.
If you’re deciding where to take costumed kids on Halloween, the Upside Down Halloween Parade runs noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. It’s free and takes place on Russell Drive in Chicago’s Washington Park.
You’ll find the parade near the Washington Park Refectory, with the kids walking the route as performers line the drive. Arriving early gives you more time within the two-hour event window.
The answer
The 7th annual Upside Down Halloween Parade runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, on Russell Drive in Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side. It’s free and open to all ages.
The route is near the Washington Park Refectory at 5531 S. Russell Drive. This is Chicago’s Washington Park, at 5531 S. King Drive, not another park with the same name. The Chicago Park District event listing provides the event details.
The two-hour daytime schedule leaves you the afternoon to get home and the evening open for other Halloween plans. Plan around the posted noon start if you want to take part in the full parade.
Why it's "upside down"
The parade is “upside down” because costumed children and families walk the route while performers line the drive and entertain them. Time Out describes the format as a “reverse” parade.
As you walk with your family, you’ll pass DJs, dancers, jugglers, acrobats and musicians, along with dance teams and sports mascots. Performers stay along the route, making the walkers the parade’s moving centerpiece.
Goodies are handed out along the way, and a surprise bag is available at the end while supplies last. The event listing from Arts in the Dark describes the parade format and its family activities.
Costumes are the way to join in, so you can dress up with your kids and walk together. The route format lets you enjoy the performances as you move through the event.
Who's behind it
LUMA8 and the City of Chicago present the parade as part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago Fall Fest 2026. LUMA8 is the arts nonprofit behind the downtown Arts in the Dark parade.
The city’s Chicago Fall Fest event information lists the parade among its seasonal activities. Free candy is provided by Mars and Ferrara.
The event is intended for families and visitors of all ages, with no admission charge. Check the event pages before setting out for any updates to the schedule or event details.
Getting there
The CTA Green Line’s accessible Garfield station is a transit option for reaching Washington Park, and its park-and-ride lot costs $4 for 12 hours. The station is at 320 E. Garfield Blvd.; check the CTA Garfield station page for station details.
Time Out also lists the 51st Green Line stop and buses 2, 3, 4, 15, 55 and 59 as options for getting to the parade. Confirm your route and service before leaving, since your best connection depends on where you’re starting.
The Park District has not published parking guidance or street-closure details for Russell Drive. Arrive early if you’re driving or coordinating with family, since the event takes place within a two-hour window on Halloween itself.
Plan your Halloween around it
The noon-to-2 p.m. parade leaves the evening free for trick-or-treating or other Halloween plans. Another Oct. 31 option is the Haunted Halsted Halloween Fest & Parade in Northalsted, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For a separate parade outing, Arts in the Dark is scheduled a week earlier, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, on Columbus Drive. The Chicago Park District’s citywide fall events announcement includes seasonal activities around the city.
Washington Park is an Olmsted and Vaux landscape and is home to the Fountain of Time and the DuSable Museum. You can make the parade part of a day spent exploring the park and its landmarks.
What we couldn't pin down
The organizers have not confirmed a rain plan, parking arrangements near Russell Drive or whether costumes will be handed out this year. The CTA Garfield park-and-ride rate is listed separately, but it does not establish parking availability at the event.
For day-of updates, check the Park District event page and Chicago Fall Fest.