Business & Tech

Halloween Parade Grows Into Boo Bash

The village's Halloween event, which is Sunday, gets a new name and new location this year. Find out why and how this tradition puts a spotlight on local businesses.

Tinley Park's Halloween parade is a tradition that has continued to grow over the years.

So much so, that it's had to shed its old location at Tinley Square Plaza and find a new name that fits it's, well, monstrous proportions.

Now called the Downtown Tinley Halloween Boo Bash, the event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, has a new home at the Oak Park Avenue Metra station, said Cathy Maloney of Downtown Tinley, the group that is organizing the bash. But those changes haven't eradicated the familiar elements of this Tinley Halloween tradition. If anything, it's just made them bigger.

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"It's really just a fun, family event, with kids coming in costumes," Maloney said.

In fact, children and their Halloween garb are still the staples of the Boo Bash, which will feature a kids parade and costume contest. The costumes will be judged in a variety of categories, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

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Amid all the Halloween celebrating, the Boo Bash also draws attention to the independently owned downtown businesses, as well the Downtown Tinley organization, Maloney said. The group, which is a joint effort between Maloney's Findzall Community Marketing and the village's Mainstreet Commission, has a mission to promote "indies"—Maloney doesn't like calling them "mom and pop" businesses—along the stretch of Oak Park Avenue, between 165th and 183rd streets, she said. Downtown Tinley set up a Facebook page in July and launched its website in September. The Boo Bash is its first big event, Maloney said.

"It's just a great way to promote independently owned businesses," she said. "It's all these small businesses that plan all these great events. … People don't realize how important they are to our community."

And business-owner involvement doesn't just begin and end with the sponsors, such as Odyssey Fun Farm and Garden Gallery and Studio. Ellen Clark, co-owner of Ed & Joe's Pizza, also a sponsor, is the chairwoman for the bash. Jim Fuentes of State Farm Insurance is the event's grand marshal and has donated a bicycle as the grand prize in the costume contest.

Downtown Tinley Halloween Boo Bash

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28
Where: Oak Park Avenue Metra station
Cost: Free
What to expect: There will be a children’s costume parade, trick-or-treating, games, prizes, snacks, food and refreshments. Step Up Dance Academy will teach the "Thriller" dance to kids throughout the day, and TNT Dance Academy will perform the Monster Mash.
More info: Go to the Downtown Tinley website or Facebook page.

 

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