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Happy Halloween, Chicago. Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or just enjoying your Friday, check out these stories from WTTW News. |
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Belmont Cragin United’s 7th annual trunk-or-treat at Kelvyn Park Junior and Senior High School on Oct. 24, 2025. (Courtesy of Alonso Zaragoza / Belmont Cragin United) |
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When Belmont Cragin United hosted its annual “trunk-or-treat” event last Friday in the parking lot of Kelvyn Park Junior and Senior High School, volunteers with whistles stood at the perimeter, ready to seal the entrance and bring families into the school gym if federal agents showed up.
“We had a backup plan for a backup plan if something were to have happened,” said Alonso Zaragoza, who leads the community resource social media pages Belmont Cragin United. “There’s really no guarantee. We could have signs up, we could make it a private event, but that doesn’t stop a bad agent from coming in and causing harm.”
Community groups and neighbors are coming together to help children and families feel safe during Halloween celebrations. Some families are choosing to opt out of trick-or-treating altogether amid fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol activity. Those fears were heightened last weekend when federal agents deployed tear gas and took people into custody in Old Irving Park as families walked to a Halloween parade.
What else is happening?
Gov. JB Pritzker asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other top federal immigration officials in a letter Wednesday to pause immigration enforcement operations so children can safely celebrate Halloween.
“No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood,” Pritzker wrote in the letter. He later added, “Even in these difficult times, they should be able to trust that they are safe – if only for one weekend.”
Pritzker requested federal immigration enforcement operations be suspended from Friday to Sunday in and around homes, schools, hospitals, parks, houses of worship and other community gathering spaces where Halloween celebrations are taking place.
Ald. Ruth Cruz (30th Ward), who represents parts of the city’s Northwest Side, held a candy donation drive to pass out goodie bags to children upon dismissal at elementary schools in the area Thursday and Friday.
The Little Village Community Council will also have volunteers on patrol to help keep children safe while they celebrate Halloween. About 200 people had signed up to volunteer as of Thursday morning. |
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(Photography By Tonelson / iStock) |
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Nearly 2 million Illinois residents, including 900,000 people in Cook County, face losing their benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, if Congress fails to pass a budget by Nov. 1.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it’s not allowed to use emergency funds to keep the program going amid the ongoing government shutdown. This is the first time in modern history that there will be a lapse in SNAP benefits. In previous government shutdowns, the program remained operational.
More context:
“The federal government has the resources, the experience and the ability to fund SNAP even if the government shutdown persists,” said Nolan Downey, senior director of policy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “They have SNAP contingency funds that are there exactly for this purpose and a number of other funds that they could deploy to make sure people do not go hungry in November.”
For every meal the Greater Chicago Food Depository provides, SNAP provides nine, said Downey, emphasizing that the organization won’t be able to meet the need.
Aubrey Lewandowski, a single mom of four children, has been utilizing SNAP benefits for close to two years after she was laid off from her job at Amazon. Her monthly benefit is $1,150, which she said covers most of the basic necessities. In the absence of the assistance, Lewandowski is planning ahead by taking on more work hours, meal prepping with friends and going to food pantries more frequently.
“There’s a lot of things that aren’t always readily available at food pantries,” Lewandowski said. One of her sons is on the autism spectrum and requires specific food items. “(I have) a child who has sensory processing and food aversions. I can only feed him certain things and I rely on those benefits to make sure he has everything he needs as well as all my children.” |
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A wall of masks at Fantasy Costumes in the Portage Park neighborhood. (Nicole Cardos / WTTW News) |
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Halloween is today and many procrastinating Chicagoans might be asking themselves, “What am I dressing up as?”
Whether there’s an easy answer to that question or not, WTTW News recently explored some of Chicago’s independent costume shops that are open year-round and can help outfit any customer’s dreams — or nightmares.
Fantasy Costumes
Operators at this Portage Park costume shop say it’s one-city-block long and has more than a million items in stock — from wigs and makeup, to masks, rentals and decorations — across all budgets. 4065 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago Costume Company
Mary Hickey Panayotou opened this shop in the 1970s to sell theatrical-quality costumes, some of which are sold today in the shop’s Vintage Vault. Now two locations, go to find dozens upon dozens of costumes, masks and makeup products. 1120 W. Fullerton Ave. & 4727 W. Montrose Ave.
Lost Eras
This Rogers Park shop offers exclusively vintage costumes collected over the past 50 years that customers can buy or rent. If not for the costumes, come for the quirky knickknacks, books, jewels — or even, the shop’s two caskets. 1511 W. Howard St. |
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Ruben Torres Maldonado, who was detained by immigration agents earlier this month and whose teenage daughter is fighting cancer, is set to be released from custody after a judge on Thursday granted him a bond.
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Back in the Day: October 31, 1994 - Freezing Rain Makes Nightmarish Chicago Halloween |
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Today’s weather forecast calls for mild temperatures in the low-50s with no expected precipitation and a not-too-bad low in the mid-40s. In other words, it’s going to be perfect evening for trick-or-treating and celebrating the holiday. But 31 years ago today, it was decidedly not great outside. On Oct. 31, 1994, 60 mph winds blew chilly, torrential rain horizontally over the area, dropping more than 2 inches throughout the storm. The Chicago Bears, playing at Soldier Field in a nationally televised Monday Night Football game, were shellacked by the Green Bay Packers 33-6. But by far the worst thing to happen that day was a plane crash. An American Eagle plane en route to Chicago from Indianapolis was awaiting landing clearance at O'Hare when it experienced severe icing on its wings. The plane spiraled and crashed near Roselawn in northwest Indiana, killing all 68 people on board.
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The 2025 Chicago Festival Guide
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Every Friday, WTTW News highlights the fairs, markets and neighborhood gatherings worth checking out. Click here for the full list.
Oct. 31: Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade (Northalsted) | Map
The 28th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade is free and also boasts a costume contest with $4,000 in cash prizes.
Oct.31-Nov. 2: Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up (West Town) | Map
It’s the last weekend to check out this West Town pop-up. You can buy tickets here.
Nov. 1-2: Little Village Arts Festival | Map
Support your neighbors with this two-day arts festival happening near the Arco de La Villita at S. Troy St. and W. 26th St.
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What's the best Halloween costume you’ve ever seen? Bonus points if it was Chicago-themed.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to say:
"Eagle man!!! [from the Eagle Insurance commercials]" — @claire_yvonne
My favorite costume when I was a kid was a traffic light. The costume came with a remote control so I could pick which color lit up. Playing red light, green light at recess that day was a blast! — Crystin Immel, managing editor for TV News
"I was a box of McDonalds French Fries..." — @dtg_1028
"In college, I dressed up as a punk rock mailman and called it 'post-punk.' For Chicago-themed costumes, I saw a guy dressed as Jesus carrying a bottle of Jeppson's Malört. He said he was supposed to be ‘Malört and Savior.’ — Josh Terry, newsletter producer |
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5:30 PM | 7:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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