Look For ChiIL Mama October Special: Or ChiIL Mama's Alternative Guide To ChiILoween and Rocktobers Best Events Part I

Du-Jay loves Thumbkin Pie  

Photo by ChiIL Mama 

Whether you call it Rocktober, Chicagoween, Autumn Equinox or something else entirely, you've gotta LOVE this season.   Halloween happenings are plentiful, farmers markets overflow with the bounty of harvest season, and those muggy, humid days are a thing of the past.


If you want a comprehensive guide to all the free pumpkin patches, spooky entertainment, and conventional excuses to dress your littles like other people and things, we recommend Chicago Park District site, Chicagoween, and  Chicago Kids Fall Guide to Free Family Fun.


Over here, we're going to highlight the odd ball, funky fun events that are out of the mainstream, and a few better known events that are just too good to miss.


Since it's such an action packed month, and every day is Halloween, we're featuring a weekly best of, but we're also putting out an early heads up on some of the best events.   That way you know what's goin' on and can save the dates.    We will also feature events right after they happen, with photo filled recaps.   Happy haunting!


ChiIL Mama's Alternative Guide To ChiILoween and Roctober's Best Events 2010:


This Weekend:

RiotFest October 6-10th at multiple venues.  Dust off your Doc Marten's and spike up that mohawk for the best of old school punk.   I've gotta go dig up that Circle Jerks Tee from the 80's...   Age policies vary by venue, so check ahead for all ages shows if you plan to bring the punk kin.

Saturday, October 9th:   See the original grrrrl power, punk pirate, Pippi at the Swedish Museum, 5211 N. Clark 11-1

Look out for Pippi!  You can see her at the Museum's Pippi Longstocking film screening on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Families will watch Astrid Lindgren's famous character come to life in the original Pippi Longstocking movie dubbed in English.  Also, enjoy pepparkakor, saft, and popcorn during the movie.  Come dressed as Pippi or one of her friends! Cost is $1 per person.  Reservations are recommended.  For questions or to reserve your spot, please e-mail Museum@samac.org or call 773.728.8111.

Saturday, October 9th Kidical Mass Ride--Don't miss this fun, free bike parade for kids of all ages! The Logan Square Kidical Mass begins gathering at 10:30am at the Palmer Square bunny park (3100 W. Palmer) and pedals off at 11am. Saturday's forecast is calling for lots of sun and highs in the mid 70s-- a lovely day for a bike ride! The ride destination will be Holstein Park at 2200 N. Oakley, where there will be a free all-season workshop at 12 noon: Get Layered! Winter Cycling Tips & Tricks at the Holstein Park Playground.  Learn  how to keep your bike on the road as the temperature falls.  Free gators and balaclavas to first 25 attendees!!! For more info on all-season cycling, visit  www.bikewinter.org. CircEsteem's Gym Wheel ShowSaturday October 9th at 7:30 p.m. at Alternatives 4730 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Performers from Germany, Argentina, Japan, Columbia, Canada and the United States will take the stage at Alternatives. This show is part of the biannual gym wheel trainging and coaching courses offered by Wolfgang Bientzle, CircEsteem, and USA Wheel Gymnastics. About Wolfgang Bientzle CircEsteem Artisitc Director Wolfgang Bientzle is the most decorated Gym Wheel acrobat worldwide. He holds 8 World Champion Titles, 11 European Champion Titles and more than 60 German Champion Titles. As CircEsteem's Artistic Director, Wolfgang has been responsible for developing CircEsteem's recreational and competitive gym wheel programs.  Under his training, seven CircEsteem instructors and students have gone to two world championships.  Hundreds of students have experienced the thrills of gym wheel and it is with Wolfgang's guidance and wisdom that Chicago is the center of the United States gym wheel movement.   As performer, coach and choreographer, he has worked with Cirque du Soleil, Disney and Holiday on Ice. He has contributed to shows in more than 50 countries and is highly respected among the Monte Carlo Circus Festival, the World Circus Festival in Moscow and Gym Wheel and Circus organizations around the world.

Saturday and Sunday, October 9 & 10th 10am-3pm

Northpark Nature Center Harvest Festival

North Park Village Nature Center - 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Du-Jay and Sagezilla have gone to the NPNC Harvest Festival all their lives.   We particularly look forward to the scarecrow-building contest.   They provide the frame, hay, markers and a giant pile of thrift clothes.   We suggest BYO sharpies.   Costumes and embellishments from home are also welcome.

Families build life sized scarecrows in this free event, line em up for judging, then get to take them home as seasonal porch decorations.   Two years ago we won a pumpkin and "Most Creative" ribbon made of buckthorn wood and corn husks.   It still holds a place of honor in our home.

The Fest also features storytelling, live music, a farmers market, food vendors, hiking and more.

Even self described "meatatarians" like my husband, will have fun at VeganMania.   This kid friendly, family feast of entertainment and healthy eatin' is produced by a hip parenting team from Oak Park, so committed to activism they named their only son, Justice!   We've known them since the mid 90's and know what a great feast-ival they put on.   Check out VeganMania's 2nd year, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Chicago has a vibrant and exciting vegan community. And now we’re taking the opportunity to really show it off. EarthSave Chicago presents Chicago VeganMania: a joyous celebration of Chicago’s vegan culture, commerce, community, couture and cuisine.

Chicago VeganMania gives you a chance to sample great vegan food from a dozen different restaurants, watch a wide array of live music and dance, attend workshops and presentations from some of the nation’s leading vegan thinkers and doers, see the latest vegan fashion and the best vegan products and crafts, catch a vegan art show, learn Chicago’s hidden vegetarian history, and so much more!

All this for FREE!

Saturday, October 9, 2010
10am-6pm

Pulaski Park Fieldhouse
1419 W. Blackhawk
(between Division and North Avenue at Noble)
Chicago