The free-to-watch parade, ranked one of the top ten in the US by Fodor’s Travel, has a spectacular Costume Contest with hundreds of entrants (Sign Up Free) featuring $4,000 in cash prizes and concludes with an awards presentation.

The Parade also features the Chicago Full Moon Jam fire performers, Windy City Jeep Club, Chicago Thriller, Lakeside Pride Marching Band, The Windy City Rollers, and Chicago Spirit Brigade pep squad.

The costume competition covers 5 categories: Character, Creative, Scary, Youth (<13) and Group. Each category will have a $500/$200/$100 prize winner for 1st place/2nd place/3rd place, respectively.

Northalsted has a ton of Halloween events throughout October: Parade after parties and contests, the Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl, Drag Competition, Trick or Treat, and more.