Daley Plaza (50 West Washington) will be transformed into FRANKEN PLAZA with a new structure rising from the city's subterranean depths. Kids and adults can take part in pumpkin decorating, spooky storytellers, new scary movie nights and performances to amaze and thrill audiences. Each day there are performances from the high flying aerial entertainers, Midnight Circus: Monday -Wednesday 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday - Sunday 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. (except October 17, two evening performances at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m). On Saturday and Sunday, free pumpkin and mask decorating (except for parade day, Saturday, October 25) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while supplies last.
Midnight Circus presents the eco-friendly, acro-centric, high-flying, grid defying, green Halloween spectacular! An exciting, accessible, highly skilled, funny to the bone, ensemble oriented, multi-cultural circus that travels by bicycle. ENTIRELY BY BICYCLE. The show will include live music (provided by the Musical Maestro on the saxophone and his CD spinning sidekick) played through a vast PA system powered by energy created by acrobats on bicycles. Yes, an entirely, self-sufficient, sustainable spectacle for children of all ages.
NEW! Dance, theater and fire are fused at Franken Plaza by Chicago based fire artists SPUNN and Pyrotechniq. The troupes combine these elements, elevating the art of fire to new heights, creating not only an exotic and exhilarating experience, but a unique, magical synergy meant to enliven and inspire children and adults. Performances are scheduled for Thursday and Friday evenings (10/23, 10/24 and 10/30) at 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. with special show times on Halloween night at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
NEW! Movie night on FRANKEN PLAZA with Halloween inspired films being shown on Saturday and Sunday evenings beginning at 6:00 p.m. with special showing on Halloween. Dates and film titles are as follows: 10/18 - GOONIES; 10/19 - ET; 10/25 - MONSTER HOUSE; 10/26 - GHOSTBUSTERS and Friday 10/31 - FRANKENSTEIN (the 1931 classic).
NEW! Check out the creepier side of Chicago when you take a stroll around MONSTRo-CITY, in the heart of FRANKEN PLAZA! Chicago scenic studio Means of Production has designed a modern, metropolitan version of the traditional haunted house, mixing 21st century flair with Chicago's historic downtown architecture. Ghosts and goblins will feel right at home in MONSTRO-CITY, which features blocks stitched together like Dr. Frankenstein's monster, swathed in mummy's rags, and oozing gore from every sewer pipe!
Kids can join in on the fun by marching in costume as part of The State Street Halloween Happening Parade on Saturday, October 25. The parade steps off at noon at the corner of State and Randolph streets. Following the parade, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, a performance by Midnight Circus and a costume contest-all at FRANKEN PLAZA. (There is no pumpkin decorating on parade day.) Members of the cast of Wicked will be on hand, so parade goers are encouraged to dress as Elphaba, the witch from Wicked. Also, Broadway in Chicago performers will be telling Halloween stories on October 31, 4:00 p.m.
NEW! The Say "Boo!" to the Flu program will make a stop at FRANKEN PLAZA on Saturday, October 25 and will be administering free flu shots to children and their families (while supplies last). Say "Boo!" to the Flu is a national campaign to increase the number of families vaccinated against the flu and educate them on other simple prevention tricks, such as washing their hands and disinfecting germ hotspots. Kids and families come join Families Fighting Flu, Visiting Nurse Associations of America and The Clorox Company in saying "boo!" to the flu this flu season!
FRANKEN PLAZA is presented by the Mayor's Office of Special Events and Meijer and sponsored in part by the following sponsors: Clorox, Chicago Parent, NBC Channel 5, Jack FM and the CTA. For more information on FRANKEN PLAZA and Chicagoween call the Mayor's Office of Special Events at 312-744-3315, TTY 312-744-2964 or visit the Web: www.chicagoween.us
