Downtown Batavia turned into a sea of costumes Saturday as BatFest brought a community parade, a pumpkin roll and trick-or-treating at dozens of local businesses to the heart of town. The free event, organized by Batavia MainStreet, ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and folded in live performances, hands-on crafts and animal encounters for families looking to celebrate Halloween before the holiday itself arrives.
According to the Aurora Beacon-News, Batavia MainStreet assistant director Kristen Desler called BatFest the group’s biggest annual event. Desler said the organization estimated attendance at about 5,000 people, a scale consistent with other advance coverage that pegged the crowd at over 5,000 attendees, as reported by Kane County Reporter. Families could trick-or-treat at more than 60 participating downtown businesses, a hallmark of the event detailed by Shaw Local.
A Parade, Costumes and a Hilltop Pumpkin Roll
Parade participants began lining up at 9:30 a.m., with the procession stepping off at 10 a.m., the Aurora Beacon-News reported. Accounts of the parade route differ: Shaw Local described the route traveling south on Houston Street, west on Wilson Street and north on North Water Street, while a City of Batavia alert described the parade starting at North Island Avenue and Houston Street, proceeding south on North Island Avenue before turning west on West Wilson Street and north on North Water Street. The Beacon-News described the parade itself as a simple walk around town and a chance for attendees to show off their costumes.
Costume contests began shortly after noon, with the children’s and group contest starting at 12:15 p.m. and a pet costume contest following at 12:45 p.m., per the same Shaw Local report. Mia Thompson, attending BatFest for the third year, told the Beacon-News the community turns out for the pumpkin roll and the activities happening at local businesses. The Pumpkin Roll took place down the hill from the intersection of Route 31 and North Island Avenue, according to the Beacon-News, and was organized by Boy Scout Troop 6, a Batavia troop. Scouts BSA Troop 6 hosted the Pumpkin Roll as a fundraiser for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, Kane County Reporter noted. Doug Hafer, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 6, told the Beacon-News the event requires some luck and draws plenty of spectators.
Reptiles, Therapy Horses and a Storytime Garden
Beyond the parade route, BatFest spread activities across downtown. The lineup included a reptile show at the Congregational Church of Batavia, a children’s storytime session in the Batavia Public Library’s Reading Garden, a make-and-take craft at Water Street Studios and miniature therapy horses at Fat Sam’s for Pets, according to Shaw Local’s event rundown. Dance performances by Soleunique Dance Complex and Batavia Academy of Dance, a witches performance by the Batavia Woman’s Club, and a Monster Mash dance lesson rounded out the live entertainment, the outlet reported. The Beacon-News added that Batavia Woman’s Club members planned to dance on stage at the Peg Bond Center during the festival…