Updated, 3:15 p.m.: With additional events and links to activities.
Several events are planned for the next week in downtown Downers Grove, home of that perfect Halloween backdrop, the Main Street Cemetary.
Many of these events are old and dear favorites. I don’t think we missed a parade during our family’s little kid years . What kid doesn’t like marching through town in a costume and trick-or-treating the stores on the way home? The window-painting event was another beloved Halloween activity we were sorry to outgrow out at my house.
As for the pancake breakfast, it’s the major fundraiser for HGNA, an organization I’ve happily participated in for four years. This year, the guys are manning the griddles again and several amazing raffle prizes are awaiting winners, including an iPod Touch package from Best Buy, a ladies’ Bulova watch from K.S. Mathis Jewelers and a $100 gift card from the Lemon Tree. Many other generous sponsors make this event possible, including Ballydoyle, McDonalds Corp., Caribou Coffee and the Community Bank of Downers Grove.
Other fun activities include the annual Moonlight Madness shopping night — a chance to get a jump on holiday shopping, maybe? — several story times at the World Repertory Theatre and a weekend pumpkin patch. The schedule of events follows.
Friday, Oct. 23
5pm-10pm: The annual Moonlight Madness shopping night, when the sales get greater as the night gets later.
5 p.m.-9 p.m.: Pumpkin Patch at the corner of Mochel Drive and Curtiss Street. This attraction is sponsored by The Farm in Westmont with proceeds will go to the Lighting Bolts Hockey Team
Saturday, Oct. 24
8 a.m.-11 a.m.: Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence Pancake Breakfast at Ballydoyle Irish Pub .
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Halloween Window Painting for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. The sponsors, the Downers Grove Rotary Club and the Downtown Management Corp., supply the paints while the young artists supply their brushes and a food donation for the F.I.S.H. Pantry.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Pumpkin Patch at the corner of Mochel Drive and Curtiss Street.
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “Downers Grove’s Other Cemeteries” at the Downers Grove Park District Museum, 831 Maple Ave. Registration required.
10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.: “Spooky Tales for All Ages” at the New World Repertory Theatre, 923 Curtiss St. Admission is $5
2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: “Downtown Doggie Scavenger Hunt,” Happy Dog Barkery, 5118 Main St.
Sunday, October 25
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: SAFE trick-or-treating at downtown stores.
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Costume Parade sponsored by the Downers Grove Noon Lions Club. Marchers meet at the parking lot west of the Main Street Train Station and across from Caribou Coffee at 12:30 p.m. then proceed down Main Street to Fishel Park.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: “A Victorian Halloween,” Downers Grove Park District Museum, 831 Maple Ave.
Note: Downtown merchants will be accepting F.I.S.H. Pantry donations all weekend long. For more information please visit www.downtowndg.org or contact Erin Venezia at evenezia@downtowndg.org or 630-725-0991.
This is not just a parade……….oh no!! There will be so many strange and wonderful people, a princess or two, people from outer space, a big funny clown with a big red nose (if he can remember where he put it from last year), maybe a hobo, and for sure a cheerleader. So, come all to the corner of Main and Burlington at 12:30 and get ready to step out on Main at 1:00 this Sunday. We will march, and laugh and sing down Main Street to Fischel Park. What will happen at Fischel Park…………goodies, more goodies and prizes for the best costumes. If you see some people claiming to be Lions………don’t believe them. Everyone knows that lions only live in the jungle…or do they?