Spooktacular Fall Fest draws families to downtown Lombard

Witches, vampires and zombies roamed downtown Lombard on Sunday afternoon, coming face to face — and sometimes walking hand in hand — with princesses, superheroes and cartoon characters.

Children in costume trick-or-treated at downtown businesses as part of Lombard Town Centre's 11th annual Spooktacular Fall Fest. The event showcases local businesses while treating families to a not-so-scary seasonal gathering.

Lombard Town Center board member Wayne Kankovsky said that based on the early arrivals Sunday, organizers were expecting to at least match the attendance numbers from the previous year.

With musicians and dancers performing on the main stage, families could get a bite to eat, check out a petting zoo, make crafts or watch a martial arts demonstration, and some children were able to decorate pumpkins. Parents could learn about local businesses and maybe even pick up some Halloween decorations at the arts and crafts fair.

Proceeds from the event support Lombard Town Centre's efforts to promote the downtown Lombard area while preserving its history. The annual fall festival helps create ties between the businesses and residents, organizers said.

“It really brings the community together,” Interim Executive Director Lynne Magnavite said before the event. “It's just downtown Lombard at its best.”