Chicago area celebrates Halloween

October 31, 2009 (CHICAGO) With so many events to choose from, it was hard to believe there's a recession going on.

Just 15 minutes in to trick-or-treat time and a group of kids in suburban Lagrange already had quite a haul, not to mention some funny costumes.

All four kids dressed up as legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka. Neighborhood adults were having their own celebration.

"Happy Halloween," parents trick-or-treating with their children said to each other.

And then there were those who refused to grow up. When the sun went down, North Halsted Street in Lakeview got its party on with thousands of people coming out to join in the festivities. Some went with traditional costumes.

"Everybody loves Minnie [Mouse], right? And I've already made a lot of friends on the street," one dressed-up partygoer said.

Others went topical.

"I just always look for original stuff, stuff that is not for sale that I can create. Then, I start looking at what was going in the news and 'balloon boy' was there," one costumed person told ABC7 Chicago.

One thing was for certain, everyone was out to have a good time.

"It's so much fun to dress up as a family and go around and get candy," one trick-or-treater said.

"As long as the kids still want to be with us and it's still cool to be with mom and dad, we're gonna do it," said another parent.

You can always find plenty of spirit on North Halsted, and the party was just getting started Saturday night. This year's parade theme was "Madhatter's Ball."

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