This year's Halloween Hustle receives thumbs-up from Palatine
Palatine Township Highway Commissioner Aaron Del Mar says the annual fun run in the village's downtown that's operated by a company he owns returned to being an "outstanding event" last weekend after it triggered noise complaints in 2017.
Del Mar's Adrenaline Sports Management operated the 13th Halloween Hustle 5K Run and Kids Dash last Saturday. The Halloween Hustle started in an Eric Drive industrial area with the children's dash at 8:10 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m., followed by a postrace party at Tap House Grill.
"Sound was perfect, people had a blast," said Del Mar, who ran the Kids Dash with his 2-year-old daughter on his back. "Thirteen years of success. Last year was a fluke."
Roughly 800 participants were in this year's Halloween Hustle and at least 100 free pumpkins were distributed to children, Del Mar said. There were 82 entrants in its first year.
Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said just one noise complaint and a few general inquiries about the downtown activity were received by police.
"Realistically, one complaint came in and, quite frankly, when you're doing an event of the size and scope that they're doing, I think that they did a great job," Ottesen said Wednesday.
Officials said the 2017 Halloween Hustle triggered many complaints from residents after loud music played and a public-address system was used starting about 6:45 a.m. - not 8 a.m. as approved by the village. Based on what happened in 2017, the Palatine village council voiced concern about noise being a problem at this year's Halloween Hustle before granting approval.
Unlike in 2017, Del Mar was present to oversee last weekend's Halloween Hustle and he said it returned to being a "normal outstanding event." The race benefited Palatine nonprofit Fathers Helping Fathers Inc., which Del Mar founded in 2006.