Out&about
Through Oct. 31
Selmi's Pumpkin Patch
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 1206 Dixon Ave., Rock Falls. Petting zoo, corn maze, weekend wagon rides. On Fridays and Saturdays starting Oct. 9, from 7 p.m. to midnight is the Sterling/Rock Falls Jaycees haunted house. www.selmi.com
Through October
Country Memory Trails
10568 Caledonia Road, Belvidere. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Wagon rides along the Haunted Trail, maze at night; daytime activities as well. For more information, visit www.countrymemorytrail.com on the Web.
Through Oct. 25
Real Pirates
At The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Learn the true story of the Whydah, from slave ship to pirate ship to final resting place on the ocean floor. Explore more than 200 artifacts recovered off the coast of Cape Cod. Advance tickets suggested Phone 312-922-9410.
Oct. 2
A Pink Affair
6 p.m. to midnight "Team Underwires – Proud to Wear Pink" will be hosting an adult prom night at Deer Valley. Dinner, dance, photos, dessert auction, 2009 Charity Check presentation. www.teamunderwires.com
Oct 2
"The Monster Hour"
Opening 6-9 p.m., with a reading at 8 p.m. at the Pleasant Street Gallery in DeKalb. The Disquieted Few present an art event based on the poetry of Zachary Schomburg.
Oct. 2-31
Fright Night
7:30 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays in Forest City. (Turn at the Post Office) Not recommended for small children. Children under 8 must be with an adult. Armbands are $15 on Oct. 2 and 31. Admission is $15 a person. Attractions: The Church, Trail of Bloody Beasts, House of Blood and Museum of Horror. For more information, visit www.hauntedillinois.com or call 309-597-2922.
Oct. 2-31
Haunted Barns of Lena
6:30-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 609 N. Schuyler St., Lena. Seven levels of darkness in two large old barns. Self-guided. Cost: $9. 800-369-2955
Oct. 2-31
Old Haunted Mill
Fridays and Saturdays on High Street, Orangeville. Seven levels of fright, starting at the fire station. For more information, visit www.oldhauntedmill.org on the Web.
Oct. 3-4
German American Heritage Center grand opening
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. at 712 W. Second St., Davenport, Iowa. Free admission. New interactive permanent exhibit unveiled. Special performances by German dancers, zither music demonstrations, children's activities and more. Visit www.gahc.org or call 563-322-8844 for more information.
Oct. 3, 10 and 17
Train of Terror
6-9 p.m. at 2954 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, 4 miles of train ride with spooky action on both sides of the track. Cost: $7. www.thefreeportshow.com
Oct. 4
Pumpkin Extravaganza!
1-4 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center. Scarecrow making and exhibit, hay bale maze, candy guessing game, ghosts craft, scavenger hunt with prizes, coloring sheets, pumpkins for sale with decorating station, fall craft show. For more information, call 309-794-0991, ext. 30. Admission: adults $5, seniors $4, youth (6-12), $3, kids (2-5) $1, children younger than 2 free.
Oct. 9
Petunia City Quilters show
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Loveland Community Building, Dixon. Display of 150+ quilts. Vendors, quilt appraisals and scissor sharpening.
Oct. 9-31
Terror on the Railroad
7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 7000 Olson Road, Union. Abandoned Train of Chills, antique streetcar ride through a haunted cemetery. For more information, visit www.terrorontherailroad.com on the Web.
Stage events
Through Oct. 4
Tomfoolery
7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Stevens Building O'Connell Theatre at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. For more information, visit www.niu.edu/theatre on the Web.
Oct. 3
Granny Rose benefit concert
Late Night Blues Brothers will perform. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. at Centennial Auditorium in Sterling. Tickets are $10.
Oct. 3-4
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
8 p.m. Saturday at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa; 2 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Hall in Rock Island. Tickets can be purchased at the QCSO Box Office, at www.QCSymphony.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.
Oct. 9-11
California Suite
Comedy at the Prairie Arts Center in Princeton. For tickets or information, call 815-875-2787.
Oct. 11
Celtic Woman
7:30 p.m. at the iWireless Center in Moline. The 2009 "Isle of Hope" tour will dazzle the eye, enchant the ear and stimulate both the mind and the heart. Tickets start at $32.50. For more information, visit celticwoman.com on the Web.
Oct. 23-24
Ballet Quad Cities performance of Dracula
7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Theatre, 330 West 3rd Street, Davenport, Iowa. Bold music, edgy choreography, eerie lighting, creative costumes and dynamic dancing all adding up to unforgettable performances Performances are at Come for a drink with Dracula at 6:30 p.m. each evening before the performance. Halloween costumes encouraged.
Oct. 25
Point of Grace and Mark Schultz
6 p.m. at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. Tickets ($17, $22 and $32) are on sale at the box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, or 800-745-3000.
Nov. 5
Jerry Seinfeld
7 p.m. at the Coronado Theatre, Rockford. Tickets: $47-77. Tickets available online at www.coronadopac.org, the Coronado Box Office, or by calling 815-968-0595.