Skip to content
Riot Fest
Tickets
Search
  • 2027 Early Bird Presale
  • 2026 Festival
    • 2026 Lost and Found
    • 2026 Photos
    • 2026 Lineup
    • 2026 Festival Partners
  • Merch
  • Upcoming Shows
  • Community
    • Beyond the Fest
    • Initiatives
    • Events
    • Park Impact
    • RESTORATION
    • Get Involved
    • Community Meeting
  • Search
Staff Picks: Spooky Season Favs

Staff Picks: Spooky Season Favs

October 21, 2026 (October 21, 2026) // Riot Fest

As the cool nights creep up on us, there are more reasons to get cozy and even more ways to enjoy the spooky and (pumpkin) spicy season.

Here are our favorite things about this time of year. What are yours?


MARC

  • It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
  • Listening to Misfits every day in October while eating Twizzlers
  • Hosting Trick-or-Treat on Halloween night

JAKE

  • THE FEST (Gainesville)
  • Candy + more candy
  • Cover sets!

LUBA

  • Autumn walks with a melancholy playlist 
  • Flannel and beanies
  • Black cats

HANNAH

  • Haunted Houses
  • Scary movie marathons
  • Visiting as many Halloween pop-up bars as possible for happy hour 

ASHLYN

  • Carving Pumpkins
  • Fall walks (crisp air and fall foliage!)
  • Seeing all the amazing costumes at the Haunted Halsted Parade

MO

  • Apple-picking.
  • Using those apples to make an apple crumble.
  • Perfect night:
    Hocus Pocus.
    Big hoodie.
    Big blankey.
    Big bowl of spooky puppy chow. (muddy buddies, whatever your preferred regional name is for it).

JEREMY

  • Pumpkin Spice Anything
  • Being able to wear an actual mask instead of the metaphorical one I wear everyday. 
  • I like to see all the trees shriveling up and dying. 

DAN

  • Trick-or-Treating with my daughter (Berwyn Trick or Treating is where it’s at!)
  • Forest Park Casket Race
  • Driving around in search of the best Hallloween lawn decorations

[yarpp]
About The Author
Riot Fest

Punk Rock (& more) Music Fest | I'm sorry we didn't book the exact bands you wanted, in the exact order you wanted, in the exact location you wanted, for free. September 18-20, 2026.

Posted in Archive, Staff Picks, Stuff To DoTagged 2026, autumn, halloween, spooky, Staff Picks

Post navigation

  Previous PostNext Post 
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
Riot Fest Tickets
Upcoming Shows Playlist
Riot Fest Presents Shows
Nov. 12, 2026
Cobra Lounge
Worst Party Ever & Equipment

Worst Party Ever & Equipment

Rosevile Sucks

Ogbert The Nerd

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Worst Party Ever & Equipment
Nov. 13, 2026
Cobra Lounge
Sunday Cruise

Sunday Cruise

Appleseed

Arcadia Grey

Friend

Cheerleader Roadkill

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Sunday Cruise
Nov. 14, 2026
Salt Shed
The Menzingers

The Menzingers

Hot Water Music

Weakened Friends

Tickets(Opens in new window).
The Menzingers
Nov. 14, 2026
Cobra Lounge
Ryan Jesse

Ryan Jesse

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Ryan Jesse
Nov. 15, 2026
Cobra Lounge
Spanish Love Songs

Spanish Love Songs

Kali Masi

tenmonthsummer

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Spanish Love Songs
Nov. 15, 2026
Cobra Lounge (AAA)
The “Nietzsche EP” Record Release Party

The “Nietzsche EP” Record Release Party

Canadian Rifle

Tightwire

Budget Cuts

Tickets(Opens in new window).
The “Nietzsche EP” Record Release Party

MORE SHOWS

Greatest Hits


  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
  • Mail
  • WhatsApp

NEWSLETTER — FAQ — CONTACT — HISTORY — TEXT ME

InstagramTwitterYouTubeTikTokFacebook

Copyright © 2026 Riot Fest Corporation. Privacy Policy.

Search for:

Send me emails so I don’t have to go to your website anymore.