Hawthorne Hill Woods will be transformed into a thrill of seven scary scenes, complete with all sorts of creatures that slither and groan. Patrons will wind their way through the haunted forest trail which will feature scary characters and around every dark corner will lurk a new horror. The Saturday afternoon session will be more suitable for children 9 and under (parental discretion). Be sure to vote for your favorite scene before you leave; a QR code will be available at the end of the woods and on the haywagon for quick and easy voting.

DATES: Friday, October 24 & Saturday, October 25, 2025
TIME: Friday & Saturday: 6:30-9:30 PM | Saturday matinee: 1:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Park at the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center and enjoy a hayride to the event at Hawthorne Hill Woods
FEE: $10/person for evening event | $5/person for afternoon event | Ages 2 and under are free

Tickets

Purchase your tickets inside the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center the day of the event and enjoy a hayride to Hawthorne Hill Woods. Cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. No refunds, no presale, pre-registration is not required. Ticket sales end at 3:00 pm for the Saturday afternoon session and 9:30 pm for the evening sessions.

Parking

Parking is available at the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center, on Carleton Drive and at Village Hall on Plaza Drive.

Drop-off/Pick-Up

The drop-off/pick-up location is on the west end of the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center parking lot, 2600 Center Drive, Woodridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to get through all the scenes in the woods?
A: Approximately 15-20 minutes

Q: How long is the wait?
A: The wait time depends on how many people are in line. When the queuing area is completely full, the maximum wait to board the haywagon to the woods is about 1½ hours.

Q: What is recommended age for the evening walk?
A: The evening walk is best suited for ages 8 and up, due to the spooky nature of the scenes and the dark wooded path.

Q: Are refunds allowed?
A: No refunds are issued for any Haunted Forest Walk ticket purchases.

Q: Are strollers allowed?
A: Strollers are not recommended for the nighttime walk, as the woodchip path can be difficult to navigate in the dark. They may be used during the matinee, but please note that some scenes and haywagons may not accommodate larger strollers.

Other Event Information

• A Boy Scout group is selling snacks, candy and drinks at the Community Center. Cash only. Food/drinks will not be sold in the woods.
• Kiwanis Club is selling glow sticks at the Community Center.
• All participating groups will receive a portion of the event proceeds to support their organization!

HOST a scary scene in the woods

Do you have family, friends, teammates, neighbors, etc. interested in building a themed scary scene in the woods and frightening people as they walk through? Each group receives a percentage of the event ticket sales, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners voted Best Scene receiving an additional amount of money! Groups are required to setup their scenes prior to 5:00pm on Friday, October 24 and remain in their scene from 6:00pm-10:00pm on Friday evening, for the Saturday matinee from 1:00-3:30pm and from 6:00pm-10:00pm on Saturday evening.