This year, the National Retail Federation expects total Halloween spending to exceed last year’s record of $10.6 billion, expecting about $12.2 billion will be spent on candy, costumes, home decor, and incidentals this year. It is the second most popular holiday in the United States, with fully 73% of the population reporting that they will take part in at least one Halloween-related event this year (Statista.com). This information should come as no surprise to eastsiders, who scour the stores for all the things that go bump in the night beginning in August. This year, expect lots of Barbies and Kens, Wednesday Addams, ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks haunting the streets looking for candy.
The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival will celebrate its 77th anniversary with many events that culminate in the Street Fair on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on East Washington St. between Ritter and Arlington. Washington will be shut down and traffic diverted around the street fair. A shuttle bus will take crowds from Howe High School, Emerson and Washington, to the fair. Last year, the crowd was estimated at about 80,000 visitors throughout the day.
The Halloween Festival officially kicked off on Saturday, Oct. 21 with a sold out Masquerade Ball that lured hundreds of costumed adults for hours of fun and frolic. On Sunday, Oct. 22, the Founder’s Awards were granted to Irvingtonians who have made a difference in the community. Later in the evening, the Spooky Organ Concert at Our Lady of Lourdes was a standing-room-only event that raised over $1,000 for the holiday food drive, plus canned food donations. The Window Painting on business windows has begun, and judging will be complete by the end of the street fair.
Coming up, Thursday, Oct. 26 from 6-8 p.m. at Irving Circle Park (S. Audubon), is a free outside reading of “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and haunted tales from the short story winners, and a special guest may appear in the haunted streets. Bring your own blankets. Hot chocolate will be available. On Friday, the Zombie Bike Ride begins at the Irvington Library, 5625 E. Washington St. at 6:30 p.m. with kids and adults zooming through the streets in costume. Also on Friday night, Al Hunter’s ghost tours continue at 7 p.m. at the corner of East Washington and Johnson Ave. next to the Irving Theatre ($20, cash only). Al’s final ghost tour of the year will be on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. so be sure to fit it into your busy Halloween schedule. Proceeds from the tours go directly back into the community.
The Vampire Run begins at 9:30 a.m., and the Street Fair begins at 10 a.m. as vendors open up booths and food trucks. Most businesses along East Washington will be open, so be sure to stop by and shop. The Irvington Library will be closed for the festival.
The Battle of the Bands will be on the Main Stage — check out the map from last week’s Weekly View for locations or go online at irvingtonhalloween.org
The costume parade this year begins at 4:30 p.m. and runs from the north circle of Audubon south to Bonna. The Black Hat Society of Irvington will perform and there will be plenty of kids, grown-ups, and pets in the parade.
Halloween falls on Tuesday, October 31. The City of Indianapolis official trick-or-treat hours are 6-8 p.m.
