Haunted Halsted Turns 30 Tonight: Chicago's Halloween Night Parade Steps Off at 7 in Northalsted
The Northalsted Business Alliance marks the 30th anniversary of the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade on Saturday night, with an all-day street festival on Halsted, a 7 p.m. parade from Belmont to Brompton, and a costume contest carrying $4,000 in prizes.
Chicago's only Halloween night parade, as its organizer bills it, marks its 30th anniversary on Saturday in Northalsted. The Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade steps off at 7 p.m. at Halsted Street and Belmont Avenue and heads north to Brompton Avenue, with more than 300 costumed participants expected, according to the Northalsted Business Alliance.
For the anniversary year, the Alliance expanded the day into an all-day street festival on Halsted Street between Aldine Avenue and Addison Avenue, with food, drinks, music, local vendors, live performances and activities for kids and families. The festival begins at noon, and at 6 p.m. Halsted Street is cleared and spectators move to the sidewalks behind the barricades to prepare for the parade.
The costume contest and post-parade party follow at 8 p.m. at the NoHa parking lot at 3514 N. Halsted, with $4,000 in total cash prizes. Day-of costume registration opens at 2 p.m. at 3211 N. Halsted. Performers listed by the organizer include the Lakeside Pride Marching Band, Chicago Thriller, the Chicago Spirit Brigade, the Windy City Rollers, the Windy City Jeep Club and the Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers.
The Belmont station on the CTA Red, Brown and Purple lines is a short walk west of the parade start, and Halsted-area streets are closed for the event, making transit the practical way in on Halloween night.
