Boystown Block Party Dead, Halloween Parade to be a ‘Twisted Circus’

Plans to transition the annual Boystown Halloween parade into a block party are apparently off the table as organizers pick a theme for this year’s march down North Halsted: Twisted Circus.

Scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 31, the outlandish parade by the Northalsted Business Alliance is now in its 17th year. This year the parade kicks off at Belmont Avenue and Halsted Street, moving through Boystown to Addison.

“The only parade where you can be part of procession!” Northalsted’s website reads. “Come dressed as clowns, sword swallowers, bearded ladies and ringmasters celebrating the Twisted Circus theme or any costume creation you choose!”

And for those who prefer to go all-out with their costume choices, organizers have decided to push back the festivities to 8 p.m., rather than 7. Giving the more extreme costumed marchers more time to prepare after the workday was one driving force to change the event into a block party.

"We’re just going to give a little bit of extra time for people to get home from work, get their costumes on, get to the site and register and still be part of the parade," Northasted Executive Director Jay Lyons told DNAinfo Chicago. 

Others issues were in regards to the parade being too long and the route not having enough activity.

And while the event is geared toward families, Northalsted is again throwing the Space Park Spooktacular for children. On Oct. 27 families are invited to Space Park at 815 W. Roscoe St. from noon to 3 p.m. for games, activities and treats.

But for those looking to pull together an unbelievable costume, the categories to win “best costume” are drag, group, original, scariest and even best pet costume.