HALLOWEEN HAPPENING & SCARE-ILLON TO PROVIDE LOTS OF FREE, FAMILY FUN
Celebrate Halloween the weekend of October 27 and 28 at two free, family-friendly events for the community provided by the Naperville Park District.
Lit with orange lights for the month of October, the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower will lend an eerie glow as the crowd gathers for the 7:00-8:00 p.m. Scare-illon concert on Sat., Oct. 27. City Carillonneur Tim Sleep will play spooky, atmospheric Halloween pieces to set the mood for the season. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton's movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the Carillon music will feature the following songs from the movie: "This Is Halloween", "Oogie Boogie's Song", "Jack's Obsession", and “Sally's Song".
Élan Dance Company also perform at the Scare-illon, alternating with the Carillon performance numbers. Élan’s Junior Company, ages 9-13, will perform a fun, spooky jazz dance to Glee’s version of Thriller/Heads Will Roll. This piece adds a modern feel to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Apprentice Company, ages 12-15, will present a modern dance piece titled “The Hill.” Senior Company, ages 14-18, is performing a modern piece, “Lucid Dreams.”
The audience is encouraged to dress for the weather as the event is outdoors on Rotary Hill, overlooking the Carillon. Naperville Park District will hand out glow sticks as long as the supply lasts. Both Élan Dance Company and the Carillon programs are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
The 2018 Halloween Happening presented by Woody Buick/GMC will take place at the Grand Pavilion at the Riverwalk from 1:00–4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. This free event is designed for children ages 10 and under with four themed areas, where they can collect treats, play games and win prizes. The four themed areas include Halloween Way, Fairytale Lane, King Arthur’s Court, and Adventure Alley. Kids are welcome to wear their favorite costumes to the event.
Live entertainment will begin at 1:30, featuring an encore performance by Élan Dance Company at 1:30 p.m., children’s musician Super Stolie at 2:00 p.m. and magician Magic Matt at 3:00 p.m.
Halloween Happening began in 1983 as safe alternative to trick-or-treating in a family-friendly community setting and it has continued every year since then. Now in its 36th year, Halloween Happening has become a tradition in Naperville. Thanks to the generous support from approximately 150 student volunteers and from our sponsors, the Park District is able to keep this event free for the community. Sponsors of the 2018 event include the following businesses: Woody Buick GMC (Presenting Sponsor), Living well Dental, Rocket Ice, Shotokan Karate, College Nannies, Pump It Up, Kidsnips, Rose Pest Solutions, 2 Toots, Naperville Bank and Trust, Bowlero, Coldwell Banker, Aurelio’s Pizza, DuPage Medical Group, Naperville Yard and Bright Start College Savings.
Halloween Happening gives children another opportunity to enjoy wearing their costumes while celebrating fall, meeting new friends and playing games together. It’s also an opportunity for high school volunteers to spend time with younger kids while they are contributing service hours.
About the Naperville Park District
Created in 1966, the Naperville Park District is an independent, municipal agency serving the recreation needs of its residents. An Illinois Distinguished Agency since 1994, the District is one of only 1% of park districts across the country to be nationally accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The Naperville Park District’s mission is to provide recreation and park experiences that promote healthy lives, healthy minds and a healthy community. The District maintains and operates more than 2,400 acres with 137 parks and provides more than 1,500 recreational, arts and environmental programs and special events annually. Included within the District’s operations are two championship golf courses, a multitude of playgrounds, trails, athletic courts and sports fields, Fort Hill Activity Center, Knoch Knolls Nature Center, two inline skating and skateboarding facilities, the Millennium Carillon, a paddle boat quarry, historic Centennial Beach, and the beautiful Riverwalk.
