Westmont's Wicked West Fest takes over downtown and Diane Main Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, with six events running from morning through evening.
The day opens at 10:15 a.m. with a costume contest on East Irving Street near Cass Avenue, according to the Village of Westmont. Judging begins at 10:30 a.m. The village's Oct. 7 announcement lists seven categories: pet, four children's age groups, ages 14 and older, and a group/family entry requiring at least three people. An earlier village events page listed six categories. The top three costumes in each category win awards, and a free photo booth runs from 11 a.m. to noon.
Kristina Kaniauskaite, Westmont Special Events executive director, said in the Oct. 7 announcement that the contest features "seven age categories, including a special family" group.
At 11 a.m., the Trick or Treat Trail opens along Cass Avenue. Shops and restaurants in the downtown business district will hand out candy to costumed kids until 1 p.m., according to the village's Wicked West Fest events page.
Also at 11 a.m. on West Irving Street, the Pumpkin Smash Extravaganza pits representatives from village departments and public agencies against each other. Contestants ride 20 feet up in a Westmont Fire Department bucket truck and hurl pumpkins at a target on the street below, according to a village press release. The smash doubles as a promotion for Westmont's pumpkin compost collection on Nov. 7 at the Village Hall commuter parking lot, 31 W. Quincy St.
The Caskets on Cass race launches at 12:30 p.m. on Cass Avenue. Teams race homemade caskets down the street. The Westmont Chamber of Commerce also has caskets available for teams that don't build their own, according to Patch. Entry costs $25.
New this year is a pickleball tournament at Net Game, 145 Plaza Drive. The tournament runs 1 to 6 p.m., followed by a community open house from 6 to 9 p.m. with a live band, food truck and free open pickleball. Mayor Steve Nero said in an Oct. 2 village announcement that the event grew from conversations with Net Game near Ty Warner Park about "getting them involved with community events."
The Haunted Forest Walk at Diane Main Park, 200 W. 59th St., runs 3 to 9:30 p.m. Participants take a wagon ride through Smith Woods and then walk through the woods on foot. A "Little Monsters" showing for younger children runs 3 to 6:30 p.m. "Sheer Terror" tours start at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $9 per person.
Wicked West Fest continues through October and into November. A Costume & Craft storytime for children up to age 6 takes place Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Ave. On Thursday, Oct. 22, radio historian Steve Darnall presents "Mystery & Horror in the Golden Age of Radio" at the library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Spooktacular Fun Night at the Westmont Park District Community Center, 75 E. Richmond St., runs Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.
