City Cast Chicago logo
Advertisement image

Keep It Local

Explore Chicago’s Magical Markets and Folklore Tours This October

Posted on October 22
Kayleigh Padar

Kayleigh Padar

A Ouija board with other spiritual items scattered across it, including three candles, a deck of tarot cards, playing cards, a palm reading display, white gloves, and skull dice.

Some of the magical items sold at Sideshow Gallery, a Wicker Park shop that’s one of the vendors at the Dead City Oddities Market Oct. 24. (Courtesy Sideshow Gallery)

This month, there are countless opportunities to get involved in Chicago’s magical community and learn more about the city’s folklore and ghosts.

Here are events coming up this month where you can peruse local curators’ magical collections and hear stories of mystical happenings.

Lanterns and Legends: AAPI Market

This lantern-lit festival is a celebration of Asian folklore, mythology, and autumn traditions. The market will feature local AAPI artists, makers, and food vendors. Expect artwork and handmade treasures inspired by legendary creatures, mischievous spirits, celestial beings, and more!

  • 🏮 This free, family-friendly event takes place Oct. 25 from 3-8 p.m. at Uni Uni and Haibayo in Uptown. Costumes are encouraged!

Hex and the City

Hex and the City is a Halloween market and party featuring more than 15 local vendors. There’s also a free photo booth, tarot readings, and other spooky activities. It’s highly encouraged that you dress up in your best witchy glam!

  • 🎟️ The market is at Stolen Saddle, 3505 N. Clark St., Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., and tickets cost $7.34. The first 50 people to arrive will receive a free witchy tote bag.

Dead City Oddities Market

This market brings together 40-plus vendors from Chicago and across the Midwest for a full day of dark art, taxidermy, antiques, gothic decor, jewelry, alternative fashion, and more. It’s not all about shopping; you can also enjoy live DJs, themed cocktails, a free photo booth, tarot readings, a caricature artist, and even tooth gems!

  • 🎶 Dead City Oddities Market will be at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave., Oct. 24 from 12-8 p.m. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased when you get there. Anyone 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Shadow Carriers Ghost Tours

If you’ve ever wondered if there are ghosts wandering the streets of Andersonville or Lincoln Park, take a tour with the Shadow Carriers. Storytellers will guide you through the neighborhoods and share stories of “folklore, fright, and history.”

  • 👻 The tours are running through early November, and tickets are $37.40. There’s also a sit-down tour Nov. 4 if you want the stories without the walking!

Share article

Hey Chicago

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.
OR BROWSE PAST ISSUES

Keep It Local

See All
Keep It LocalOctober 22

Your Guide to Chicago’s Spiritual Shops

Chicago’s spiritual shops are a great place to learn more about the occult, practice rituals, and meet others interested in magic.

A fireplace mantel displaying various gothic decorations, a golden skull, small ornate black frames, and three books about ghost stories and history.
Keep It LocalOctober 15

Your Guide to Chicago’s Spookiest Spots

From a medieval torture museum to a horror-themed cafe, these spots serve up scares.

Pedestrians walk past and linger outside the Medieval Torture Museum on North State Street in Chicago, its facade featuring a large illustrated sign with a menacing red-hooded figure and skeletal imagery above the entrance.
Keep It LocalOctober 15

Open House Chicago Spotlight: Get Witchy at the Colvin House

Stop by the Colvin House in Edgewater during Open House Chicago.

The Colvin House in Chicago, a beige brick mansion with columns and an arched doorway surrounded by an iron fence.
Keep It LocalOctober 8

Explore Chicago’s Indigenous History

Chicago has always been a Native place. See which nations call it home and the real story behind its name through the Indigenous Chicago...

A multicolored line illustration of a Chicago map that’s filled in with plants and animals native to the area, including foxes, white-tailed deer, wild onion, and corn.
Keep It LocalOctober 8

Your Guide to Chicago’s Indigenous-Owned Businesses and Organizations

Support Chicago's Indigenous community and catch a dance and drum show, enjoy Indigenous cuisine, view Indigenous Futurist art, and learn...

People dressed in traditional Indigenous outfits, including feathered headdresses, fringe, and beadwork, dancing on a stage in front of a “Native American” banner decorated with floral designs at a City of Chicago event.
Keep It LocalOctober 1

Where To Find Chicago’s Crafting Community

Want to connect with other fiber craft enthusiasts? Here are a few groups of sewing enthusiasts and makers who meet around Chicago.

A wall lined with rows of colorful thread on display at Third Coast Stitches.
Keep It LocalOctober 1

Your Guide to Fiber Crafts in Chicago

Here's a roundup of local shops that have everything you need to start your next project, plus workshops where you can learn new techniques.

Orange, red, and yellow flowers beside the entrance of Third Coast Stitches, which has needlepoint designs strung up across the store’s front window.
Keep It LocalSeptember 24

‘Tis the Season of Film Festivals

Here are the film festivals in Chicago that you won't want to miss in September and October 2026.

A crowd lines the sidewalk outside the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, where the marquee advertises the 61st Chicago International Film Festival beneath the theater’s iconic vertical neon sign.

The latest in Chicago

Food & DrinkOctober 22

6 New Spots to Dine and Drink

It’s perfect weather to cozy up with friends at new bars and restaurants! Chicago has no shortage.

Emmi Mack drinks a cocktail at Hooligan.
Neighborhood GuidesOctober 19

Your Early Voting Guide

Early voting begins today at 9 a.m. in all 50 wards. Get ready to cast your ballot!

"I voted" sticker held up at a Chicago voting center.
Chicago, ExplainedOctober 16

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events in Chicago? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

A rat on the ground on a snowy day
Neighborhood GuidesOctober 15

Your Guide to Halloween Season

Haunted houses, big parties, leaf-peeping … It's spooky season!

A large troll animatronic at 5 Points haunted House.
Neighborhood GuidesOctober 2

🎃 Your guide to October

A full guide on how to make the most of October in Chicago.

A native dancer wearing a large black, green and yellow feathered headdress and colorful traditional clothing performs with one arm raised, holding a feathered ceremonial object. Other dancers in feathered headdresses are visible in the background.
Neighborhood GuidesSeptember 24

Happy World Gorilla Day!

Gorillas may not be native to Chicago, but you can celebrate World Gorilla Day at Lincoln Park Zoo or Brookfield Zoo.

two silverback gorillas in an enclosure looking at each other. The enclosure has a pond and grass as well as some brush in the background
Neighborhood GuidesSeptember 22

Are Singles Mixers Worth It?

Ahead of cuffing season, I explored Chicago's "singles" scene. I am still single.

Emmi Mack in a crowded bar holding a drink posing with a look on her face as if she was deciding. She is surrounded by other people talking amongst themselves
Chicago, ExplainedSeptember 22

How to Not Overflow Chicago's Sewers

You can be a little grody on Overflow Action Days. It's nothing compared to the grodiness of flooding sewage.

A combined sewer outfall on the North Branch of the Chicago River.