Rundown of Halloween Howl & Other Spooktacular Downtown Events This Weekend

The countdown is on to Saturday's Halloween Howl: A Nightmare on Chicago Street in downtown Elgin and we have pulled out all the stops to set the scene for a ghoulishly good time this weekend!

Here is the rundown for Elgin's Halloween Howl:

On Saturday, October 30 beginning at 1pm, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin, the City of Elgin, The Hemmens Cultural Center and Elgin Symphony Orchestra present Elgin's Halloween Howl: A Nightmare on Chicago Street – a day of ghosts, goblins and good times for the whole family!

Here is the rundown of the day's events:

1:00PM – Registration for Costume Contest (open to kids ages 12 and under) on the south patio of The Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Kids Arts & Crafts inside, Kids Activities including Pumpkin Decorating, Face Painting, and "Thriller" Dance Demo throughout downtown Elgin.

Trick or Treating at Downtown Businesses will also begin at 1:00PM. The following is the complete list of participating businesses that are open to Trick or Treaters:

Al's Cafe & Creamery - 43 DuPage Court
Anderson's Trophies & Engraving - 27 N. Grove Avenue
Artistic Framing & Supplies - 25 N. Grove Avenue
Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant - 11 Douglas Avenue
Bella's Fashions - 156 E. Chicago Street
Central Barber Shop - 172 E. Chicago Street
The Centre of Elgin - 100 Symphony Way
Domani Cafe - 109 E. Highland Avenue
Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill - 231 Douglas Avenue
Downtown Neighborhood Association - 2 Douglas Avenue
Elgin Antiques & Uniques - 203 E. Chicago Street
Elgin Books - 209 E. Chicago Street
Elgin Police Department - 151 Douglas Avenue
Elgin Public House - 219 E. Chicago Street
Fadez & Bladez - 9 N. Grove Avenue
Fusion Mind Body Studio - 221 E. Chicago Street
Girl Scouts - 167 E. Chicago Street (table in front)
Hilltop Skate Shop - 73 S. Grove Avenue
Keeney's Sporting Goods/PK's Antiques - 19 Douglas Ave.
Kim's Black Belt Academy - 5 S. Spring Street
La Puesta Del Sol - 165 E. Highland Avenue
Pastigel Bakery - 154 E. Chicago Street
Ravenheart Coffee & Cafe - 176 E. Chicago Street
The Razor's Edge - 55 Douglas Avenue
Riverside Chorus - 169 E. Chicago Street (table in front)
Salon Couture - 176 E. Chicago Street
Shockey Jewelers - 18 Douglas Avenue
Simple Balance Holistic Center - 221 E. Chicago St.
Steffen, Kelly & Steffen - 17 Douglas Avenue
Studio One Hair Salon - 151 E. Highland Avenue
Toom Toom Thai Restaurant - 23 S. Grove Avenue
Two Doors Down Antiques - 207 E. Chicago Street
YWCA - 220 E. Chicago Street

2:00PM – Halloween Storytelling by Gail Borden Public Library on the south patio of The Hemmens

3:00PM – Parade of Costumes/Awards for Best Costumes on the south patio of The Hemmens

3:30PM – ESO's Halloween Spooktacular Concert at The Hemmens. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available via ESO Box Office at 847.888.4000 or at http://www.elginsymphony.org/

7:00PM – DNA's Night at Psychosis Haunted House at 200 N. Spring Street from 7pm-Midnight. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the DNA to fund downtown revitalization efforts.

8:00PM – The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Hemmens. Adults 21 and older. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased by visiting http://www.hemmens.org/. Come out early to meet your Master of Scare-emonies WCIU-TV Channel 26's Svengoolie beginning at 6:30PM!

For a map outlining all Halloween Howl activities, click here > > >

To add to the Halloween ambience, Rediscover Records, part of Two Doors Down Antiques at 207 E. Chicago Street, will be providing the soundtrack for Trick or Treating as they will be spinning all your favorite Halloween tunes!

Also artist Dan Erman, whose work will be profiled on ABC-7's 190 North show on Halloween night, will be decorating several of the storefront windows along Chicago Street and Douglas Avenue.

Even the light poles along Chicago Street (as shown above) will be dressed in their Halloween finest – courtesy of our friends at ACME Design at 37 N. Union Street in Elgin.

And don't forget all the frightening fun that downtown Elgin's nightlife has to offer! On Friday and Saturday nights several downtown bars will be offering tricks and treats "Grown-Up Style" with Halloween parties, costume contests and more.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

NENA Monster Mash Bash
Douglas Street Sports Bar
231 Douglas Avenue
7-11PM
Raffles for 46" Plasma TV & iPod
Pumpkin Decorating & Costume Contests
Tickets $10
www.NENAofElgin.org

Party Animals (8-10:30PM) & Medusa’s Classic Halloween (10PM-4AM)
Medusa’s Nightclub
209 E. Chicago Street, 2nd Floor
Two Great Parties in One Night!
Tickets $10
www.DaveMedusa.com

Halloween Hot & Sexy Salsa Night
Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano
13 Douglas Avenue
9PM
Costume Contest
No Cover!
www.VillaVerone.net

Gasthaus Five Band Halloween Show
Gasthaus
15 N. Grove Avenue
9PM-2AM
Five great bands!
Tickets $6

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

Halloween Party Martini Style
Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago Street
6PM-3AM
Costume Contest
Photo Booth
www.MartiniRoomElgin.com

DSSB Halloween Party
Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill
231 Douglas Avenue
7PM
Meet the 3 Olives Girls!
Live Music from 90's210
www.DouglasStreetSportsBar.com

EPH Pumpkin Carving Contest
Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street
Win Great Prizes for Your "Best Dressed" Pumpkin
All Ages!
www.ElginPublicHouse.com

Hangout Halloween
Hangout Club & Grill
51 S. Grove Avenue
Costume Contest
Live Music
http://sporthangout.com

Red Bar Halloween Party
Red Bar Winery & Bistro
74 S. Grove Avenue
Harvest Moon Wine
Great Food & Drink Specials
www.RedBarWinery.com

'Downtown Brainstorm' Set for November 16 at Gail Borden Library

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin (DNA) invites the community to participate in Downtown Brainstorm – an interactive planning workshop about downtown Elgin and the DNA on Tuesday, November 16 from 6-8PM at the Gail Borden Public Library at 270 S. Grove Avenue.

The purpose of the workshop is to engage the public about (1) what existing downtown events and programming they enjoy and value most; (2) what downtown events and programming they would like to see added or changed in the next year; and (3) how they can get involved with the City, the DNA and our partner organizations to make an impact on the revitalization of their downtown.

All individuals, organizations and businesses who currently partner with the DNA on special events and other programming are strongly encouraged to attend in order to discuss partnership plans for 2011.

The general public is invited to join in on these existing initiatives and to offer suggestions on new events, programming and partnerships for the coming year.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact the DNA Office at (847) 488-1456 or downtownelgin@gmail.com.

Downtown Elgin Construction Update - Week of October 25

Metra Track Reconstruction Scheduled for Completion on October 28

No work will take place on Highland Avenue from October 20 through October 27 while METRA has Kimball Street closed. Assuming that Kimball Street is re-opened by Thursday, October 28, work will begin on adjusting drainage structures in preparation of the new surface course. Placement of surface is scheduled for the week of November 1, weather permitting, followed by placement of the permanent pavement striping later that week.

Brick paver installation and landscaping work will continue on Dexter Court as well as construction of the new planter and decorative wall.

If weather conditions remain favorable, construction of the brick paver crosswalks will begin after the surface has been placed and would be completed prior to Thanksgiving.

The City's payment drop box has been temporarily relocated during construction. To access the drop box, enter the Civic Center Parking lot from Douglas Avenue. Vehicular access to the drop box will be available in a drive up lane set up in the parking area along the north side of this entrance. The drop box will remain in its temporary location until the new center planter/wall is built in Dexter Court.

This phase of the CBD Streetscape project includes Highland Avenue from Riverside Drive to Center Street, Grove Court, Spring Street from Highland Avenue to Division Street, Dexter Court and Center Street from Kimball Street to Dundee Avenue.

The Scene: Halloween Fun "Grown-Up" Style

Listen up "mummies" and "deadlies"! After you've laid the boys and ghouls to rest, call the babysitter, put on your finest Halloween attire (or just cut up a bed sheet - it's really your call) and set your sights on downtown Elgin this Halloween weekend! It's time for Trick or Treating grown-up style!

Check out all the Halloween fun in store for you this weekend in this edition of "The Scene":

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

NENA Monster Mash Bash
Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill
231 Douglas Avenue
7-11PM
Costume Contest for Cash Prizes, Raffle for 46” Plasma TV & iPod, Pumpking Decorating, $10 Admission

Party Animals (8-10:30PM) & Medusa’s Classic Halloween (10PM-4AM)
Medusa’s Nightclub
209 E. Chicago St.
Two Amazing Parties! One Night! $10 Admission, 3 Levels of Fun, Costume Contests, 2 Dance Floors!

Hot & Sexy Salsa Night
Villa Verone Ristorane Italiano
13 Douglas Avenue
Beginning at 9PM
Hot and Sexy Salsa Night! Plus Costume Contest with Prizes for Sexiest, Spookiest and Most Creative Costumes!

Five Band Halloween Show
Gasthaus
15 N. Grove Avenue
9PM-2AM
After The Fight, Voice of Addiction, The Regals, Gunner’s Daughter, and Red Channel! $6 Admission (Ages 21+)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

Halloween Party Martini Style
Martini Room
161 E. Chicago Street
6PM-3AM
Best Costume Contest for Cash Prizes, Photo Booth by Black Canvas Photography and Drink Specials All Night Long!

DSSB Halloween Party
Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill
231 Douglas Avenue
Starts at 7PM
Meet the 3 Olives Girls! Enjoy Spooky Drink Specials! Plus Saturday Nite Band: 90's210! Come Dance and Party!

Pumpkin Carving Contest
Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street
Judging All Day Saturday!
Carve your Pumpkin & bring it to EPH on Thursday or Friday for judging on Saturday! Prizes for Scariest, Funniest, Most Original & Best Overall!

Hangout Halloween
Hangout Club & Grill
51 S. Grove Avenue
Costume Contest with Cash Prizes and Enjoy “My Lazy Elephant” Classic Rock Band!