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BatFest celebrates Halloween in Batavia

Posted October 24, 2015 1:00 am

By Laura Stoecker

Hairy Pawter, 3, owned by Denise and Adrian Brigham of Streamwood, waits in his fire truck for the Halloween pets costume contest Saturday at BatFest in Batavia. Hairy Pawter was among the three winners. The pup, which is also a therapy dog, has won 41 costume contests, its owners said. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com

Families comprised of princesses, superheroes and goblins flooded downtown Batavia Saturday for the annual BatFest Halloween celebration. Kids trick-or-treated at various businesses and competed in a costume contest.

Maya Urban, 5, of Batavia, and parents Sarah Urban and Erik Hughes dressed as Scooby Doo, Velma and Shaggy, respectively, and took first place in the group costume category.

Zack Noe, 11, of North Aurora, dressed as Pennywise, the clown from the Stephen King movie "It."

"I'm terrified of clowns, so is everyone in my family. That's why I (want to) be them, to scare (my family)," Noe said.

For the pets costume contest, Nikki Schimpf of Aurora dressed her dog, Addie, as an astronaut, making the costume herself. Addie won a prize.

"She actually loves it when I make her costumes. She'll wait there for me to try it on," Nikki said.

Maya Urban, 5, as Scooby and father Erik Hughes as Shaggy, both of Batavia, wait for the group costume category at BatFest Saturday in Batavia. Maya's mother, Sarah Urban, was Velma. The trio, participating for the first time, took first place. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com

Alex Turner, 11, of North Aurora, is dressed as the Grim Reaper as he waits for his costume category to be called Saturday at BatFest in Batavia. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com

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