Halloween Gathering Costumes

Dogs marching in sweaters, little girls carrying radiant lanterns and acrobats flipping wildly joined the eclectic march down Columbus Drive on Saturday as part of The Halloween Gathering’s nighttime parade.

Artistic groups from across Chicago showcased their odd and fun creations, such as the Hardcore Hearse Club with ornamented and painted hearses, as several thousand watched in awe. Children and adults alike dressed in costumes while nearby food trucks provided sweet treats and savory sandwiches. While the temperature was cool, and rain sprinkled down, the weather did not dampen the spirits of the parade watchers and walkers, as people sang along to the parade music and cheered as the floats glided by.

“Just seeing some of the families

“Everything was spread out,” said Tania Rojas, a marketing and advertising professional from the Chicago area. “And there wasn't enough candy for the kids to go trick-or-treating. I wouldn't go back next year. ”

As a first-year event, expectations were set high, but others felt The Halloween Gathering exceeded even the loftiest anticipations by allowing each person to display their creativity, whether in a costume or a float.

“It was a nice mix of different types of Halloween decorations and artistry,” said Heather Stark-Killean, owner of Killean Kreations, an independent, creative gallery featured in the parade.

“I was glad to see some of the video coverage, because even though you were there, there was so much going on. You could miss something,” Stark-Killean said.

Though there were over thirty organizations present with thousands of members dressed in sparkles, bright masks or bold suits, each group was given a mention by the announcer.
One group called Costumes with a Cause, which visits hospitals and works to raise funds for charity, had adults run along the street and give out high-fives and candy corn to onlooking