Elgin neighborhood group hosting Halloween party
Elgin's North East Neighborhood Association, a group known for its Homes for the Holidays tours, is turning the tables on its main fundraiser by staging its first Monster Mash Bash Halloween Party this week.
The event, scheduled from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Medusa's, 209 E. Chicago St. in downtown Elgin, includes a star-studded lineup of guests. Elgin Mayor Ed Schock and his wife, Karen are serving as "Monsters of the Ceremony" or guest hosts. Elginite Brice Cooper, the design superstar who stars on HGTV's "Design on a Dime" is serving as the master of ceremonies and announcer.
Costume judges include Elgin City Councilman Juan Figueroa, Downtown Neighborhood Association Director Tonya Hudson and Patricia Piper Golden, the 16th circuit court judge in Kane County. Dave Medusa, owner of the nightclub, is also pitching in as a judge.
While the tour idea isn't going away, organizers thought they needed a fresh idea, explained Kerry Kelly, president of the North East Neighborhood Association or NENA.
"We needed a replacement for our tour and I've always liked Halloween parties," said Kelly. "We started talking about it in August and things fell into place from there."
Kelly, who is planning to attend the Bash as a vampire with her husband, John Steffen, an Elgin City Council member who will dress as Abraham Lincoln, said the event is designed as a family-friendly, fun event. While the party is only for adults 21 years of age or older, parents with children ages two and older can drop them off across the street from Medusa's at the YWCA, 220 E. Chicago St.
For $10 per child, the YWCA will provide Halloween treats, a movie and other activities.
While the children are partying across the street, the adults will kick their Halloween festivities into high gear. Kelly said attendees can win a shot at more than $1,000 in prize money by wearing the best costume or by coming as the best couple, wearing the scariest outfit or the funniest. A highlight of the event is a Monster Mash in which groups of 10 people will dress a live model in a supplied assortment of garb during a timed competition.
"We will supply one person for each group who will be dressed in regular clothes," explained Kelly. "Those groups will have the chance to compete for the best-dressed Monster Mash."
The $35 advanced ticket price includes an assortment of food, desserts, and a cash bar. Although the NENA party ends at 10 p.m., guests can stay into the night when Medusa's starts its own Halloween party. Tickets to the Monster Mash are available at the following Elgin locations: Books at Sunset at 1100 South St., RavenHeart Coffee at Spring and E. Chicago St., Zeigler Ace Hardware on Spring and Lillian streets and Al's Café & Creamery at 43 DuPage Ct.
Kelly said a lot of people are keeping their Halloween guises under wraps to achieve a total surprise on the big day.
"I've heard of several people coming as jokers but even a lot of people on our event committee and in the community aren't telling me what their dressing as," she said. "It should be a fun evening."