Lemont's two big ticketed events this October both use the town's limestone. One is a lit pumpkin trail through the old quarries at The Forge. The other is a ghost story series held partly inside the Old Stone Church, a building put up with stone tailings that Brown Quarry donated. The Village's Lemontster Days 2026 calendar fills the rest of the month around them. On Saturday, October 10, you can fit both into a single day, along with a free festival and a fun run.
The quarry trail, Thursday through Sunday nights
The Forge: Lemont Quarries is running Enchanted Adventure: An Evening of Pumpkin Monsters, Magic, and Mischief from September 25 through November 1. It's open Thursday through Sunday nights only. According to the Village's description, after sunset a lit path leads through three themed areas of backlit pumpkins designed by artisans and built into creatures, spells and pranks. You can walk right up to the displays. It's a walk, not a ride, and the Village says it's made for all ages.
The details for planning a night:
- Length: a half-mile walking trail. The Forge suggests allowing about an hour and says guests go at their own pace.
- Hours: the Kidlist event listing gives 6:30 to 10 p.m.
- Tickets: $25.24 for teens and adults and $16.15 for ages 3 to 12, as reported by Patch in August. Tickets are sold online through Eventbrite.
- Parking: free, at 227 Heritage Quarries Drive.
- Extras: Patch lists live pumpkin carving, fall photo spots and seasonal food. A separate Kids Fun Pass covers the Kids Adventure Zone, Kids Jump Zone and Mini Golf.
Coverage disagrees on whether this is the first year. Shaw Local called it the park's "newest seasonal activation," while Patch's headline said the trail "returns." Either way, the schedule is what matters for planning. Counting from this week, 16 nights are left: four Thursday-to-Sunday weekends, starting October 8 and ending November 1.
The Old Stone Church and a series that has run since 2019
The Lemont Area Historical Society has run Spirits of the Limestone every fall since 2019. On its 2026 event page, the Society says the stories come from Lemont's "limestone buildings, quarries, waterways, cemeteries," and from legends about "the quarries and the Bowl." The Society sorts each story into one of three types: documented history, experiences people have reported, and folklore. It explains the history behind a story without claiming it can confirm the ghosts.
This year all three events fall on Saturday, October 10:
- 12:30 to 2 p.m., Downtown Lemont Ghost Story Walk. Meet at the Metra Train Station Lot. The walk covers local ghost stories and the real history of downtown buildings. It's outdoors, so dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.
- 3 to 5 p.m., Voices from the Old Stone Church. Nicole Tito of Ghostly-Voices.com plays evidence recorded in earlier investigations of the church. She then shows paranormal equipment, and guests investigate the building themselves.
- 6 to 8 p.m., Dead Air. An original live show staged as a 1930s–40s radio broadcast. WLMT host "Rex Rattlebones" takes "calls" about ghostly soldiers, haunted restaurants and mysterious creatures. It's performed for the audience in the room and isn't broadcast on radio or online.
Each event costs $20. An All-Access Pass for all three costs $50, a $10 savings, and proceeds go to the Society's preservation work. The church and museum are at 306 Lemont Street. The ticket box on the Society's event page shows a "Sold out" label but doesn't say which option is sold out. Check the page before you plan around a specific event.
Saturday, October 10, from noon to 10 p.m.
The Historical Society says it left gaps between its events so guests can eat or look around downtown. Those gaps line up with the rest of the Village calendar that day. Since the quarry trail is open Saturday nights, one day can cover the town's main October events:
- 12:30 p.m. Ghost Story Walk from the Metra lot downtown.
- 2 p.m. Lemont Juniorettes "Monster and Me Mile Fun Run" on the Heritage Trail at the Lemont Township Community Center. The race is open to all ages, strollers are welcome, and Anytime Fitness provides snacks and water. The listed $10 registration deadline was September 26, so contact the Juniorettes about late entry before you show up.
- 3 to 6 p.m. Harvest Fest at the Lemont Park District Centennial Campus. It's free, with Trunk or Treat from 3 to 5 p.m., a beer tent, live music, hayrides and kids' activities.
- 3 to 5 p.m. Or skip Harvest Fest for the hands-on investigation inside the Old Stone Church. The two overlap.
- 6 to 8 p.m. Dead Air at the Old Stone Church.
- After 8 p.m. The Enchanted Adventure trail, which the Kidlist listing shows open until 10.
A family with young kids might do the fun run, Harvest Fest and an early trail visit. Adults with an All-Access Pass can stay downtown all afternoon and walk the quarry trail after the radio show.
The rest of Lemontster Days, by date
Most of the remaining calendar is free. Several events are held in places residents already use, like the library, the police station and the Township community center.
- Friday, October 16, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Oktoberfest on The Range at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club, 1 Pete Dye Drive, with seasonal beer, a German buffet and golf challenges.
- Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. National Bigfoot Day Market at Peterson Park, 225 Canal Street, with spooky vendors, food and tarot readings.
- Wednesday, October 21, 7 p.m. Morbid History: Murder Mystery Edition at the Lemont Public Library, 50 E. Wend Street. Performer and filmmaker Lorrisa Julianus comes back with stories that include old royal murders and Old Hollywood scandals. The Friends of the Lemont Library sponsor it.
- Thursday, October 22, 6 p.m. Wicked FX with GlamBat Studios at the library, an FX makeup demo with hands-on practice for ages 10 and up.
- Friday, October 23, 4 to 6 p.m. The Lemont Police Department's second annual "Boo with the Blue" at 14600 127th Street. It's free, with candy, photos with officers and CCSPD D9 on site.
- Saturday, October 24, noon to 2 p.m. Lemontster Trick-or-Treating at participating downtown businesses while supplies last, plus more Halloween activities at Peterson Park. As of this writing, the Downtown Lemont trick-or-treat page says the list of participating shops is still coming.
- Tuesday, October 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Halloween Bingo and Costume Contest at the Lemont Township Community Center, 16300 Alba Street. It's $10 at the door.
- Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m. Hammer: House of Horror at the library. Journalist and film historian Jeff Cappel covers how Britain's Hammer Studios remade the classic Universal monster movies from the 1950s through the 1970s.
- Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. BooBash at Ruffled Feathers, with brunch, a trick-or-treat trail, pumpkin painting and costumes.
- Saturday, October 31, 3 to 6:30 p.m. Village trick-or-treat hours. Turn your porch light on if you welcome trick-or-treaters.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. The quarry trail is open that night and closes for the season the next evening, Sunday, November 1.
Deadlines that close before Halloween
Several Lemontster Days events have sign-up or participation windows, and a few close well before the 31st:
- Scarecrow Trail voting ends October 18. The Lemont Junior Woman's Club theme this year is "Stars, Stripes & Scarecrows," for the USA's 250th anniversary. Prizes go to the best youth, family and business or group entries, and voting details are on the club's Scarecrow Trail page.
- House decorating contest registration closes October 19. The Park District contest is free and open to Lemont residents 18 and older, program code 861333-A1. Homes must be fully decorated by Friday, October 23. Send one photo to [email protected] by the same date. The top two People's Choice vote-getters win Park District gift certificates, and winners will be announced by October 29.
- Township bingo RSVPs are due October 20 at 630-257-2522.
- "Treat or Treat" pantry donations run all month. Drop off canned meats, cereal, peanut butter, coffee, paper goods or cleaning supplies in the bin inside the Lemont Police Department entry or at the pantry drop-off by the Jewel customer service counter. The drive supports the Hope and Friendship Foundation.
The Village asks residents to check the Lemontster Days page often for updates.
Lemont's limestone history shows up in its downtown buildings, in the Old Stone Church and in every walk along the quarries. That history comes up in Kathy's work too, when a client wants to know what makes one stretch of town different from another. If you have questions about your home's value or want a local adviser who works in English and Polish, Kathy Szuba is happy to talk this fall. Get your free home valuation.
