All Hallows Eve, a swanky-spooky Halloween party for kids and grownups alike, returns to Naperville’s Naper Settlement this weekend for two nights of fun and frights.
Open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, the event features outdoor activities and Halloween-themed art and performances designed specifically for families and anyone 16 and younger, Settlement spokeswoman Denise Wilt said. Tickets are $25 per person and free for children 4 and younger.
Among the new draws this year is the zombie hotel funhouse, with trick floors and fun mirrors designed for younger children. It’s a pop-up house that’s not as scary as fun for the little ones, she said.
“Another new attraction we have is Kazimir the Hungry. He’s a new sideshow performer we’re having this year,” she said. “He’ll do various side show acts like sword swallowing, glass eating and (walking on) a bed of nails.”
He will have a few showtimes throughout the night on both days and when he’s not doing his act, magician Steve Chezaday will perform. He’s been a longtime staple at the event, Wilt said.
“We’re also having a headless horseman as an attraction this year … featuring an actual horse onsite. He’s a performer on a horse that will do a routine.”
All Hallows Eve fan-favorites will be returning as well, she said.
“All Hallows definitely is 13 acres of Halloween fun for families,” she said. “Our special events team does a fantastic job of researching. They research a year in advance for this event and come up with new attractions they think people will love. It’s a lot of research; it’s a lot of asking our attendees for feedback — what did you like about the event and what would you like to see in the future.
“And since it is a family-friendly event, we’re trying to think, what would 10-year-olds like, what would 5-year-olds like. We’re trying to think of things for different ages of kids. We try to get a good mixture for all kids.”
Music will be provided by School of Rock musicians. Two theater groups, Magical Starlight Theatre and Kaneland Arts Initiative, will perform scary, Halloween-themed skits at the Settlement’s indoor theaters.
“They always put on great performances,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome those community groups back.”
Older kids will enjoy navigating a maze entrenched with live zombies and laser tag presented by Chasers Laser Tag.
Adults might like to visit the dark arts gallery.
“We find spooky, creepy works of art that might spook the younger kids. We have them hanging in the Playscape area. We’ll have it decorated with spooky lighting and we’ll have creepy, eerie photos hanging up so people can walk through there to check those out,” she said. “Also, in that area we will have black light canvas painting presented by Pinot’s Pallet. You can do a black light painting and then check out the dark art area.”
Speaking of art, nationally recognized Naperville artist Paul Kuhn will have two sculptures on display with which people can snap pics.
“The first one is a gargoyle and that will be more towards our mansion. It will be in kind of a gargoyle graveyard,” she said. “They’re really fun photo opportunities for people and they are amazing works of art. A little bit farther down the mansion hill will be a giant werewolf. Again, another fun photo opportunity for people.”
Older kids and adults will also enjoy the 800-square-foot Screams from the Unknown Outdoor Haunt.
“I would definitely say that’s our scariest attraction,” she said. “I wouldn’t recommend it for younger kids because it is pretty spooky. That is definitely where you will get the scares. It includes animatronics popping out at you. That will be returning for those who want more of the scare factor.”
Seven food vendors will be on hand selling pizza, ribs, chicken tenders, fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, funnel cakes, ice cream, empanadas, churros, cookies, candy apples and more. For the first time, beer and wine will be sold at the event.
“We’ve got a good mixture of local businesses that will have food and drinks for sale,” she said.
When All Hallows Eve started in 2004, it was focused on skits and theater inside the museum’s buildings.
“Over the past few years, we’ve definitely reimagined the All Hallows Eve experience and transitioned many of the events and activities to more outdoors, and that was mainly to preserve and protect our buildings and our artifacts,” she said.
“We are really are happy with how it has been reimagined and we’re happy with the two (theater troupes) we have inside. So for people who still want that indoor skit type of vibe that the event had when it was created, we still offer that as well in addition to all the outdoor attractions as well.”
People are encouraged to dress in costume and participate in the costume contest.
“(All Hallows Eve) is a very unique event,” Wilt said. “I feel like there aren’t as many Halloween-themed events for children of this kind and on this scale. … It’s a good, fun night out with your family at the Settlement.”
For more information, go to NaperSettlement.org/AllHallowsEve.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
