48th Ward Hosts Annual Halloween Parade

A man costumed as Severus Snape pushed a child dressed as Harry Potter from the “Harry Potter” franchise on the swings, while nearby another man stepped in to an inflatable Olaf costume from “Frozen,” much to the delight of a young girl who was dressed up as Elsa. 

Edgewater families donned costumes at 10 a.m. Oct. 26 and gathered at Bromann Park, located at 5400 N. Broadway, to participate in the 48th Ward’s annual Halloween Parade. 

This year was Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) and her office’s first time organizing the parade. 

“It is an annual tradition,” Nicole Granacki, Manaa-Hoppenworth’s chief of staff, said. “It’s been coordinated historically by the 48th Ward office.” 

Manaa-Hoppenworth and her team welcomed members of the community into the park as families prepared for the parade to begin. 

Before Manaa-Hoppenworth began to lead the crowd down the parade path at 10:30 a.m., Conor Hart from the 48th ward office gathered the crowd to take a group picture on the playground.

The parade took a new route this year beginning at Bromann Park, instead of Pierce Elementary School where it has historically started. After leaving the park, participants walked west on Balmoral Avenue, north on Lakewood Avenue and walked a block down the road before turning west onto Catalpa Avenue and ending at Elise Malary Plaza. 

At the corners of Balmoral and Lakewood as well as Lakewood and Catalpa, participating children could stop to trick or treat. At each corner, a resident was waiting with a basket of gluten free candy and kids had the opportunity to grab a piece.  

Edgewater resident Quevin Vasquez said it was his first time taking his 5-year-old son to the parade. He said he enjoyed the parade and the local events which followed because it gave his son the opportunity to talk to other people. 

The parade culminated in the ending at Catalpa and North Clark Street where the “Aville-o-ween” events were taking place. Aville-o-ween is an annual tradition put on by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce where local businesses come together to put on fun Halloween events for families. 

At the post-parade events there was bracelet making and stick-on tattoos available for kids as well as a costume contest where attendees could get a polaroid picture taken of their costume. The costume contest winners were set to be announced by the judge, dressed as Batman, at 3:30 p.m.. 

Families and kids were also invited to participate in trick-or-treating at local businesses. Throughout the morning, people in costume walked up-and-down the street, stopping into businesses and grabbing candy while they chatted with friends and neighbors.

“It’s easy to walk to and all the businesses have been great and accommodating,” Edgewater resident Kelly Dues said. “It’s a perfect day out here”. 

Dues said she has been attending the annual Halloween events since her daughter, now a toddler, was a baby. Her friend, Katelyn Andrysiak-Begert, who was dressed as Princess Leia with her young son, costumed as Luke Skywalker from the “Star Wars” franchise, said the businesses are very sweet to the kids. 

At 12 p.m., Urban Pooch, a local canine life center, held a contest for the best dressed dogs in costume and also invited kids in costume to get up and tell their best jokes. A crowd gathered at the far end of the plaza to cheer on the dogs and get a glimpse of the best canine costumes. 

For those planning to trick-or-treat Oct. 31, Granacki said the 48th Ward office will be coordinating crossing guards in the Edgewater neighborhood to keep people safe and help make Halloween enjoyable for all.