Main-Dempster Mile Hosts Annual Spooky Saturday Event
The Evanston business district welcomed families for a day of trick-or-treating, a costume parade, and a block party.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Approximately 90 businesses participated in the annual Spooky Saturday event held within the Main-Dempster Mile. The community celebration featured a variety of family-oriented activities including a kids' costume parade and a carved pumpkin display.
Why it matters
Local businesses organize the event to foster community engagement and connection with area residents. By moving the block party to an earlier start time, organizers aimed to give families more flexibility to enjoy festivities alongside traditional trick-or-treating.
Approximately 90 local businesses participated in candy distribution for the event. The scale of the event is measured by this business involvement across the Main-Dempster Mile district.
The players
Main-Dempster Mile
This is a local business district in Evanston that coordinates recurring community events and promotes local commerce.
City Volkswagen
This is a local automotive dealership that served as the venue for the block party portion of the celebration.
The details
The festivities included a kids' costume parade and a carved pumpkin display evaluated by local design professionals. A block party anchored the celebration at the City Volkswagen lot located on Chicago Avenue.
Timeline
The Spooky Saturday celebration took place on October 24, 2026.
Market Landscape
This event follows the Main-Dempster Mile business district revitalization strategy of leveraging community-focused programming to increase foot traffic. By hosting localized block parties, businesses in the area distinguish themselves from broader retail chains through active community engagement.
Residents can expect annual opportunities for family-focused entertainment and business interaction within the corridor. The scheduling shift allows families to better manage their time when planning local activities during the fall season.
The takeaway
Community events like these strengthen the bond between local storefronts and their neighborhood customer base. Residents should monitor district schedules for future holiday-themed gatherings that provide similar local engagement opportunities.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments and happenings in the area on the Evanston Openings & Closings page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston Now.
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