Downtown Naperville gets into the Halloween spirit
Hordes of little ninjas, superheroes, monsters and princesses prowled downtown Naperville Sunday to enjoy a variety of Halloween-themed activities.
It seemed like something was going on wherever you looked. Downtown merchants participated in the annual trick-or-treat Sunday, while the Naperville Public Library hosted an afternoon of stories and songs at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Also, the Naperville Park District held its annual Halloween Happening at the Grand Pavilion.
The park district event, which has become a popular tradition in Naperville, offers families a chance to enjoy safe games and treats while showing off their Halloween costumes.
“This is our second year coming to this,” Naperville resident Steven Chen said at the Halloween Happening. He and his 5-year-old daughter, Marisa, who was dressed as a ladybug, were waiting to enter the Wizard’s Castle bouncy house. “It’s great that we can take her out in her costume and spend a relaxing afternoon like this. The actual day of Halloween tends to be pretty hectic.”
Chen said he and his daughter stopped by the downtown trick-or-treat before heading to the Grand Pavilion.
“It’s nice that all this stuff kind of happens together,” he said.
Connie Bracken, of Aurora, brought her two superpowered sons — one dressed as Iron Man and the other as Captain America — downtown to get an early jump on trick-or-treating.
“It’s been a nice day — cold but pretty sunny so far,” she said. “And they’ve just been dying to get outside in their costumes.”
Bracken said she wasn’t sure if she’d visit the other Halloween events going on nearby.
“Just this might tire all of us out,” she said.