Downtown Lombard bustles with annual Spooktacular

Francis Wilson has been wearing his Iron Man costume around the house for days.

“We got it for him a week ago, but this is the first time he's had a chance to really show it off,” said mom Christie. “If we'd had to wait until Halloween, he might have lost his mind.”

The Lombard residents were among the attendees of the Lombard Town Centre's annual Spooktacular Fall Festival, a daylong event that featured games, music and trick-or-treating at local businesses.

The fest took place Saturday at St. Charles Road and Park Avenue in downtown Lombard. The intersection was closed for the duration of the event.

“I think it's great,” Wilson said. “Kids love Halloween, and this kind of extends it for them. And there's a nice neighborhood feel to it, too.”

Fest-goers had a lot to enjoy. Many children gathered around the petting zoo at one end of the fest. Others tried their luck on the “mechanical bull” ride actually a padded saddle that was pulled this way and that by volunteers. A pumpkin-carving demonstration was part of the activities, too.

Trick-or-treating, though, appeared to be the highlight of the fest. Children dressed as cowboys, superheroes, princesses and friendly animals quickly moved in and out of downtown businesses, building up a nice supply of sweets.

Lombard Town Centre, a community organization, hosts the Spooktacular Fall Festival in an effort to draw attention, and customers, to downtown Lombard.

Barb Zechlin, an employee at Sweet Street Candies on St. Charles Road, said the event definitely made for a busy Saturday in her store.

“We had plenty of traffic today,” she said. “It's been fun. I hope it does make more people aware of what this area has to offer.”