Zombies, Hearses and Baby Bats at First-Ever Downtown Halloween Parade

CHICAGO — Starting Saturday afternoon with a Downtown festival and culminating in a "Thriller" dance mob, the first-ever Downtown Halloween parade was an explosion of color, costumes, and yes, a souped-up hearse.

The Chicago Cultural Mile Association announced in August a new Halloween festival with activities stretching from Maggie Daley Park to the "Agora" statues near Roosevelt Road. Here's a look at what went down:

 

Had a blast painting on this super sweet float last night at the Halloween Gathering on the Chicago Cultural Mile with @rahmaanstatik ! Front section done by Rawfa. 🎃 Thank you so much @xjennix937 and @abevaz for the invite!

A photo posted by @lgray1222 on Oct 25, 2015 at 8:28am PDT

 

Yesterday was absolutely amazing! Thank you to all of the Companies who performed on the Enchant DANCE Stage at Maggie Daley Park for the first ever Halloween Gathering on the Chicago Cultural Mile! And a special thanks to my Co-Host/Spirit Animal Brooke Elkins! #thgccm #enchantdancestage #JoffreyBallet #ChicagoHumanRhythmProject #CHRP #movementrevolutiondancecrew #chicagourbandancecollective #333 #nicorubio #kalapriyachicago #kalapriya #ChiDance

A photo posted by T. Bowser (@_timbowser) on Oct 25, 2015 at 8:21am PDT

 

Chicago Halloween Parade 2015

A video posted by Olga Mushtei (@olgamushtei) on Oct 24, 2015 at 6:26pm PDT

 

Because nothing says Halloween like low riders. #Chicago #choloween #lowriders #latepost #HalloweenGathering #ChicagoCulturalMile

A video posted by Marcos Romo (@romocop33) on Oct 25, 2015 at 5:04am PDT

 

Yay! Chicago has hosted its first Halloween Parade!

A photo posted by Beth Carleton (@imalmost5ft) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:11pm PDT

 

Dill Costa is mesmerizing! #bateriaquilombola #evanstonescoladesamba #brazilianculturalcenter #blocomaximo #Chicago #latergram #halloween

A video posted by Zoraida C (@zoraidaco) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:45pm PDT

 

#halloween parade #halloween gathering #chicago cultural mile #downtown #fire

A photo posted by Malgorzata Werner (@maggosia) on Oct 24, 2015 at 7:27pm PDT

 

Had a blast directing the live stream of Chicago's first ever Halloween Gathering tonight with @freqtv ! Here is what went on inside the media truck! #ccchalloween

A video posted by JEN ARW (@jenjenoz) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:27pm PDT

 

Hardcore Hearse Club at the Halloween Gathering #hardcorehearseclub

A photo posted by Johnny Miller (@johnnydeckermiller) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:08pm PDT

 

Had a great time with my gypsy mama and our little batboy at the first annual Halloween Gathering downtown tonight! #chicagohalloween #halloween #parade #halloweengatheringchicago #halloweengathering #ghostbuster #diadelosmuertos #batboy #gypsy #henryindiana

A photo posted by Johnny Miller (@johnnydeckermiller) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:05pm PDT

 

#halloween parade downtown 🎃 #Chicago #WednesdayAddams

A photo posted by @vixshakur on Oct 24, 2015 at 7:51pm PDT

 

Channeling our inner zombies last night at the Chicago Cultural Mile's Halloween Gathering Parade #thriller

A photo posted by The Happiness Club (@thcchicago_) on Oct 25, 2015 at 6:25am PDT

 

Halloween Parade

A photo posted by Annette Martinez Fuller (@prannabel) on Oct 24, 2015 at 5:51pm PDT

 

#zombiedance #halloweengathering #halloweenparade #chicagoculturalmile #lakeshore #chicago #scarynight #superfun #awesome #superview #weekendfun

A video posted by Prashanth (@reddy_ready) on Oct 25, 2015 at 10:14am PDT

 

Halloween parade!

A video posted by Rhea Korito (@rkorito) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:14pm PDT

 

#thrillers chicago Halloween parade

A video posted by Janet Diaz (@diazjanett) on Oct 24, 2015 at 5:50pm PDT

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