For Evanston residents and Northwestern students who cannot make it to Chicago for Halloween, downtown Evanston may have just the right treat.
To celebrate Halloween, people can go to some of the bars popular on Thursday nights or they can go trick-or-treating. The younger crowd can attend Halloween-themed events sponsored by the city of Evanston.
This evening, The Keg of Evanston, 810 Grove St., will have a live DJ, no cover charge and prizes for the best dressed. Patrons should come in costume and ready to dance.
Nevin’s Live, 1450 Sherman Ave., is hosting a unique Halloween party and concert. Local bands will be dressing up and performing as various popular alternative artists such as David Bowie and Nirvana. The cover charge is $10.
Kids of all ages have a three-hour window to trick-or-treat in the city’s neighborhoods tonight, from 4 to 7 p.m. For parents who disapprove of the standard door-to-door wanderings, Evanston is hosting several youth-oriented parties for children 15 and under.
The South Branch of the Evanston Public Library, 949 Chicago Ave., will host a costume parade with songs, stories and games from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The Robert Crown Center, 1701 Main St., will host two separate activities — one from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for preschoolers and an ice-skating party from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for older children. Kids ages 3 to 8 are invited to the Chandler-Newberger Center, 1028 Central St. to celebrate some freaky festivities.
Rochelle Santopoalo, an Evanston resident for 32 years, is a Halloween expert and the founder of the Halloween Alliance, which seeks to create a positive image of Halloween and a networking system for Halloween enthusiasts. The group also publishes a magazine.
Santopoalo said Evanston residents often settle for low-key Halloween celebrations at home.
“Evanston doesn’t exactly embrace Halloween,” she said. “July 4 and New Year’s Eve are far more celebrated and embraced throughout Evanston.”
This opinion is shared by 24-year-old Evanston resident Rachel Smith.
“With the increasing number of bars in the Evanston area there is slightly more to do in Evanston this Halloween than in years past, yet the majority still flock to the city,” she said.
