Hauntingly Good Time Planned For Annual Halloween Hoedown

Downtown Lemont will be a flurry of activity this Saturday as area kids get a jumpstart on Halloween by attending the village’s annual Halloween Hoedown.

The event, which takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., will include a costume parade and contest, haywagon rides at Budnik Plaza, kids entertainment, a pumpkin jumpie, arts and crafts, and trick-or-treating at Safety Village and multiple downtown Lemont stores.

“It’s just a great little event for the kids,” said Donna Pecina, marketing coordinator for the . “And pretty much everything is free.”

Lineup for the costume parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Legion Park across from the , 101 Main St. At that time, the costume contest will be held and prizes will be awarded. The parade will kick off at 1 p.m., led by a haunted squad car, and end at Safety Village.

Pecina said different village organizations have sponsored each of the miniature houses in Safety Village and will pass out candy. The Haunted Caboose at Safety Village is being sponsored by Lemont’s Boy Scouts Troop 49.

“It’s a great way for little ones to get around in a nice, confined area,” she said.

Bigger kids can go trick-or-treating at the downtown Lemont merchants. Kids should look for the "Welcome Trick or Treaters" signs at the participating businesses, Pecina said.

“In the Safety Village area they’ve run out of candy every year for the last couple of years and most of them are prepared for at least 700 or 800 kids,” she said.

Pecina said the event is a big draw for the Lemont families and that she’s looking forward to seeing the kids’ costumes.

“Some are really elaborate — not just store-bought costumes but stuff people have made and put together,” she said. “I’ve seen some really awesome costumes over the years.”

Once the kids are home and tucked in bed, Halloween festivities will continue in downtown Lemont with an adult scavenger hunt and costume party, which will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The scavenger hunt will begin at , 114 Stephen St., and end with a costume party and contest, food and music at Stone House Pub, 103 Stephen St.

Michelle Zaper, owner of Belle de Jour In Style and and coordinator of the event, hopes to see a good turnout.

“People have a ball,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

For more information about the Halloween Hoedown event, visit the Village of Lemont’s website.