Boo Palooza was jammed with around 2,000 costumed and not Halloween frolickers

Junior Women's League of Chicago's Mad Hatters

Choices abounded for close to 2,000 Boo Palooza participants in Wicker Park on a lovely Saturday morning and afternoon Oct. 29. A pumpkin patch, needle in the haystack, apples on a string, decorating pumpkins, bobbing for apples, making halloweeny thingees, face painting, learning to play chess, learning about healthy eating, getting photographed, playing ghost bingo,

dancing, being part of the Magic Boat, getting prizes, selecting candy, eating pop corn, listening to story time with Mike Nowak, being in the kiddy parade, being in the doggie  parade and a whole lot more were just some of the activities.

Mike Nowak interviews audience member during story telling

"This is amazing...How much fun is this!...I love our neighborhood...There are so many choices!...I have met some great people...OMG look at that...what is it?...Cute...Scary... Wow...Never seen so many people here at one time...These strollers are getting wider...Fun...This Park is great!"  were just some bits and bites overheard.

Yoda stopped by a game table

Thirty plus groups with approximately 160 volunteers expertly and tirelessly organized by Doug Wood were part of this year's Wicker Park Advisory Council's Boo Palooza event which took weeks of organizing and planning.

Of the 160 volunteers, more than 125 were from outside the neighborhood. Celebrating their 100th Anniversary in 2012, the Junior Women's League of Chicago began large-scale service projects in June aimed at celebrating past accomplishment, cultivating existing partnerships and

Apple bobbing challenged some more than others

engaging new organizations to lay the foundation for their future. Participating in Boo Palooza, seventy-five people strong, they gave performances, served at various booths and engaged children in healthy eating.

Healthy eating was the message at the booth

Of the forty volunteers from Mosaic Church, twenty teen-agers from very under privileged homes in the community began helping on Friday night with pre-event work such as cleaning pumpkins and stringing apples. Pastor Scott Venable said, "Many of our volunteers really liked being part of the event and felt good about working in the community."

This little turtle is out of the pumpkin patch on the way to decorate it

Roberto Clemente Community Academy at Western and Division had ten volunteers on Saturday helping with various activities. "Our goal for next year is to engage more neighborhood people in the production of this event," commented Wood.

Doug Wood mans the main booth

Supporters included the Chicago Park District, Friends of the Park, Wicker Park Garden Club, WPB (SSA#33), Junior Women's League of Chicago (75 volunteers strong), Mosaic Church, Urban Encounters, Doggy Style, Grand Street Gardens, Christy Webber Landscapes, Evolve, Children's Dentistry, Cat & Mouse Game Store, Chess Wizards, Easel Art Studio, A.N. Pritzker School, Chicago-Pipeline, Iron Creek Farm, Alderman Moreno, Psycho Baby, Best Buy, The Kids Table, The Wicker Park Committee, WPB Camber of Commerce, Powell's Bookstore, Magic Boat and Our Urban Times.

The photos below will give you more sights of the day. Click on a photo below and a slide show will open.

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For information about the canine side of the event click here!