Halloween spirits are restless...Boo-Palooza 2014 to arrive October 25 in Wicker Park

Halloween spirits are restlessly awaiting Boo-Palooza's return to Wicker Park, Sat., Oct. 25, bringing with it numerous new activities, performances and learning experiences. Boo-Palooza 2014 will feature 60 organizations working together to present a memorable event for all ages in Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave. 

Costume parades with prizes for children, families, adults and dogs; games for all ages and dogs; exciting performances; a pumpkin patch; pumpkin decorating; dancing; a maze; midway of games; hooping; old fashioned activities like find the needle in the straw stack and Bobbing for Apples; Ghost Bingo; activity tables presented by community organizations and businesses from all over Chicagoland; and more. 

What could an Adult Do at Boo-Palooza?

• Wear a Costume and join the costume parade at 11am and try to win one of the three prizes (see list below)
• Learn to command the Wheel at Cirques Experience’s site
• Draw with Rooted
• Play Ghost Bingo with Urban Encounter’s Bingo John
• Wear a Costume and Sign Up to Dance Battle at Collaboraction’s Dome of Doom
• Watch some excellent performances (see below)
• Check out Comics at Vigilante Press
• Taste Incredible Flavors at David’s Tea and Kind – Healthy Snacks
• Play some of the Midway Games with Mosaic Church, Wicker Park Committee, Grace Community Church, Build ON, Students from Phoenix Academy, and Urban Village Church
• Go to Apple the Apple on the String tent and test your aim – and meet Here Comes the Sun and Roger Park Chiropractic
• Learn About the WPB Chamber and WPB SSA#33 and try out their table games
• Play games at some of the activity tables
• Learn about Sitter City/Date Night Now – a night away from the Kids?
• Talk about your Neighborhood Concerns with 1st Ward Joe Moreno and 32nd Ward Scott Waguespack
• Meet Culture Lady from Our Urban Timesas she takes your photo

What could a Dog Do at Boo-Palooza?

• Wear a Costume and join the costume parade at 12Noon and try to win one of the Best Dog Costume prizes
• Play Dog Games at the Dog Game Area and meet the Doggie Style Pet Shop and the Dog Park Team
• Ask Super Dog Walking to take a photo of you and your friend/owner at the Dog Game Area
• Watch Culture Lady and the humans taking photos and having fun! 

What could a Child Do at Boo-Palooza?

• Almost Anything!
• Visit the Pumpkin Patch, pick the best pumpkin, and decorate it with Easel Art Studio, JLC Done in a Day, Josephinium Academy, and BuildON
• Watch the Magic Boat Puppet Theatre, The Mad Hatters, Pritzker Dancers choreographed by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble
• Wear a Costume and join the costume parade at 11 a.m. and try to win one of the  prizes (see Prizes below)
• Get your family to dress up in Coordinated Themed Costumes and join the costume parade at 11 a.m. and try to win one of the three Best Family Costume prizes
• Play Pumpkin bowling with Friends of the Parks
• Play at Psychobaby, Building Blocks Toy Store, Purple Monkey Playroom’s, and Children's Dentistry - Bucktown Wicker Park

Activity Tables

• Check out Comics at Vigilante Press
• Go Hula Hoop with Carly Hoops
• Get your Face Painted by Volunteers from numerous organizations
• Learn to Cook with The Kids Table and JLC Kids in the Kitchen
• Play Chess with Chess Wizards
• Enjoy the Activities at Wicker Park Lutheran’s Table
• Visit Macaroni Kid Chicago and make a macaroni necklace
• Visit the Apple Bobbing and Apple on a String tent
• Find the Needle in the Straw Stack
• Play at the Midway of Games
• Navigate the Maze
• Visit some of the school activity tables and see your friends from A.N. Pritzker School - Friends of Pritzker, St. Stan's School, The Nicolson School 

COSTUME PARADES WITH PRIZES – For all Ages and Dogs

11 a.m. – Parade for Children, Families, and Adults – Prizes for 3 Best Costumes in Each Category

12 Noon – Parade for Dogs

Children’s Costume Contest Prizes

Family Costume Contest Prizes

Adult Costume Contest Prizes

Dog Costume Contest

PERFORMANCES – of Interest to All ages

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Magic Boat Puppet Theater

10:30 – 11 a.m.  JLC Mad Hatters

11 a.m.  – 1 p.m. Cirques Experience (Performance and Audience Participation – Learn How to Wheel Jam)

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Magic Boat Puppet Theater

1:30 p.m. – A.N. Pritzker Dancers choreographed by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

Noon -- 2 p.m. - Collaboraction  Dance Battles Dome of Doom – All Ages 

Boo-Palooza is designed and presented by Wicker Park Advisory Council, Wicker Park Garden Club, Mosaic Church, Urban Encounter, 250 volunteers, and 60 organizations working in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. The event was supported with contributions from Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber, WPB SSA#33, 1st Ward Joe Moreno, Christy Webber Landscapes, Christy Webber Home and Garden Center, Athletico Physical Therapy, Iron Creek Farm, and Nichols Farm. Our Urban Times is Boo-Palooza’s press central.

Photos courtesy of Elaine Coorens and Doug Wood