Copyright Chicago Tribune
Families can get their trick-or-treat bags filled with seasonal fun Saturday when two new events join the Halloween lineup in the Carpentersville/Dundee area. Things get underway at 9 a.m. when the village of Carpentersville hosts its new Spooky Sprint and Haunted Happenings at Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave. Jen Hyde, the village’s marketing and events coordinator, said the idea for the new 5K came from Village President John Skillman, who mentioned he’d like to see a fun run in town. “When we began planning this year’s Halloween festivities, we looked at what neighboring communities were already offering and searched for a way to complement, not compete, with them,” Hyde said. “That’s when the idea for the 5K Spooky Sprint came to life. It felt like the perfect addition to Carpentersville’s events lineup and a great way to bring families together in a new, active and festive way.” The fee to enter is $20, and runners are encouraged to wear costumes. The goal is to combine health, family and celebration into one lighthearted morning meant to capture the spirit of the holiday, she said. To make the Sprint more inclusive, there will also be a free Mini Monster Dash in the park so kids can try out their running skills and take their pets out for some exercise at the same time, Hyde said. If that’s not enough, there also will be trunk-or-treating, with at least 16 vehicles planning to distribute candy and other ghoulish goodies, she said. “Halloween is such a fun and inclusive holiday. It naturally brings people of all ages and backgrounds together,” Hyde said. “As a village, we love creating opportunities that foster connection and community pride, and this event does just that.” If all goes well, the hope is Spooky Sprint and Haunted Happenings will become a new Carpentersville tradition held on the last Saturday of October, she said. “This year, the Saturday before Halloween felt like the perfect fit. It keeps the excitement of the season while avoiding conflicts with other major community events,” Hyde said. “It also allows us to stay in sync with surrounding towns’ fall festivities so families can enjoy multiple events throughout the weekend.” The second new gathering this Saturday will be the Dundee Township Park District’s Dia de los Muertos celebration, being held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville. “The park district is deeply committed to fostering inclusive experiences, and this event was designed to reflect the rich cultural diversity of Dundee Township,” spokeswoman Katie Keller said. “By creating a space for remembrance, cultural expression and joyful gathering, the Dia de los Muertos celebration brings people together through shared traditions.” A community ofrenda will be set up on which guests can display photos of departed loved ones in remembrance. The gathering will also include games and crafts; live music and entertainment; face painting; food trucks and other vendors, Keller said. A $2 per person fee will be charged to attend, with tickets available for purchase at the Rakow Center’s front desk. Attendees will be limited to five tickets per person. “We see this event as a meaningful way to kick off the traditional Dia de los Muertos celebrations that typically take place on Nov. 1 and 2,” Keller said. “By choosing Oct. 25, our goal is to create space for the community to celebrate without overlapping with other festivities or family traditions.” For those who want to make Saturday a day dedicated to all things Halloween, there are three other area activities that can be added to the docket. The third annual Historically Haunted Car Show is being held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Dundee Township Historical Society Museum, 426 Highland Ave., West Dundee. The show is free but car owners must pay a $20 fee to participate in the viewing and competition. The first 50 entries will receive a dash plaque. Also in West Dundee, the village’s annual Halloween party is set for noon to 3 p.m. in Grafelman Park, 112 N. Fifth St. The free event will feature kids activities, a trunk-or-treat, costume contest, fall refreshments, pumpkin decorating and a donation drive for the FISH Food Pantry. And, if you’re so inclined, you can go straight from that party to Sleepy Hollow’s Halloween in the Hollow, being held from 3 to 10 p.m. in Sabatino Park, 145 Thorobred Lane. The free gathering will include a costume parade, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, a chili cooking contest, concessions and a bonfire. As is tradtion, the night culminates with an appearance by the “Headless Horseman.” Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
