🎃 Happy Halloweekend! We've got trick-or-treating schedules (or lack thereof), parades, parties and pets in costumes. For those of you who like to lay low, snuggle in for some spoooooky films.

• This will be your best Halloween yet, if we have anything to do with it!

Today’s newsletter is 1,013 words — a 4-minute read.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, raising a question for Chicago families: What time should trick-or-treating begin?

Why it matters: Unlike many Chicago suburbs, the city doesn't announce official trick-or-treating hours, leaving families and neighborhoods to decide when the candy collecting kicks off.

The big picture: Suburbs are hosting Halloween hours this year between noon to 8pm with various start times.

• Schaumburg and Arlington Heights start at 3pm, while Oak Forest starts at 1pm and Summit at noon.

Context: In Chicago, trick-or-treating traditionally takes place after school and continues until dark — or until houses run out of candy.

The intrigue: When we asked the mayor's office about standardizing trick-or-treating hours, officials declined to comment, instead pointing us to special daytime Halloween events in city parks.

What they're saying: In our reader poll, 57% of respondents favored sticking with a 4pm start, while 25% said neighborhoods should decide for themselves.

• "I've already gone over budget on candy, because I fear running out," reader Mary M. told us. "If trick-or-treating started earlier, I just don't think I could keep up with the candy demand."

Timely tip: "If you're not ready to receive kids, then turn off your porch light," reader Max E., who has two young trick-or-treaters, said.

What's next: We'll tackle whether you should give candy to kids who aren't wearing costumes. On second thought, we're staying out of that one.

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Carrie's picks

🐶 The only thing cuter than little kids in costumes? Dogs in costumes! Dog parents do not mess around in the costume contest at the Annual Streeterville Dog Halloween Party. I love it, even if Zuzu has never won. | Free | MCA | Saturday, 9-11am

🪦 Although readers voted it out in the first round of our spooky places tournament, an evening stroll through Rosehill Cemetery gives me goosebumps. But this walk is more for nature lovers than scare seekers. | Free | 5800 N. Ravenswood | Thursday, 5pm

🎉 I missed Arts in the Dark last weekend, but there's another chance to catch a costume parade, DJs, treats and more at the Upside Down Halloween Parade. | Free | Russell Drive in Washington Park | Saturday, noon-2pm

Justin's picks

🎃 The 30th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade is by far the best in the city. The queer community doesn't mess around! It takes over Northalsted with live entertainment, amazing costumes and a contest featuring $4,000 in cash prizes. This parade should be on your Chicago bucket list. | Free | Halsted between Aldine and Addison | Saturday, 7pm

🎬 This is Halloween blasphemy, I know, but I only recently watched "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" all the way through for the first time. Now I need to see it with an audience. The cult classic takes over the Chicago Theatre with a 4K restoration, live shadow cast, audience participation and a costume contest. | $84 | Saturday, 7:30pm

💀 Pilsen's Día de los Muertos Window Walk features storefront displays created by local businesses and student artists along 18th Street. Visitors can vote for their favorites. But don't miss the unbelievable display one block south on 19th Street between Throop and Loomis. | Free | Through Nov. 2

Monica's picks

📚I don't love scary movies, but I really dig Chicago broadcaster and author Nick Digilio, who is launching his "40 Years, 40 Horror Films" and signing books just in time for Halloween. | Free | Kaiser Tiger | Friday, 6-8pm

👯 You can help fund Chicago's "Fame"-style Academy for the Arts high school while having a ball dressed as your favorite deceased celebrity this Halloween at the "Dead Famous" party. | $200 | The Alston | Saturday, 8pm

💃 As someone spookily great at dancing, I'm torn between two parties at Metro. Saturday's Nocturna: All Hallow's Eve Ball features a costume contest, GlitterGuts live photo booth and DJ Scary Lady Sarah. Hallo-Queen on Sunday offers multiple DJs and installations by Boxboy Rich, hosted by Lucy Stoole. | $25-$37 | Metro | Saturday, 10pm and Sunday, 9pm

🎥 Manual Cinema brings its blend of shadow puppetry, movie techniques, sound effects and live music to this spectacle, blending the Frankenstein story with author Mary Shelley's biography. | $55-$95 | Studebaker Theater | Saturday-Sunday, various times

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If you're staying on the couch this Halloweekend, we've got some classic horror films for you that are either shot or set in Chicago.

"Child's Play" (1988) — Streaming on Prime Video

• The original "Child's Play" made Chucky a household name. The murderous doll terrorized his family, who lived in the Brewster Apartments in Lakeview.
• This film was shot all around Chicago, including downtown at State and Madison, at a former toy store on South Wabash, and at an elementary school on 43rd Street.

Be smart: The next few sequels weren't shot here, which is why they'll never best the original.

"Candyman" (1992, 2021) — Both streaming on Prime Video

• The 1992 film and Jordan Peele's 2021 reboot were based on a true story of a man coming through mirrors at Cabrini-Green.

Zoom in: The Cabrini row houses serve as a backdrop as the main characters try to escape the ghost who's only summoned by chanting his name three times.

• Don't do it!

"The Relic" (1997) — Streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

• "The Relic" wasn't a huge box office success, but it does have a great premise: A lizard-like monster god comes alive at the Field Museum and feasts on people.

Want to skip the scaries? View this week's new streaming options

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Edited by Larry Graham.