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📸 Credit: Batavia MainStreet
Got your costumes ready?
BatFest, Batavia’s annual Halloween festival, will take over the downtown area on Saturday (10/24) from 10AM-2PM. The free event features trick-or-treating at more than 60 businesses, a community parade, costume contests, and live performances.
Organizers expect more than 5,000 people to turn out.
Here’s what to know:
Parade kicks it off: Parade participants line up at 9:30AM at Houston Street and Island Avenue. The parade steps off at 10AM and heads south on Houston, west on Wilson, and north on North Water Street. Funway will have games and music at the lineup area.
Trick-or-treat window: Trick-or-treating runs from 10AM to noon. Stops along the way include a reptile show at the Congregational Church of Batavia, storytime in the library’s Reading Garden, miniature therapy horses at Fat Sam’s for Pets, and a photo-op mural on North River Street painted by Batavia High School art students.
Festival hub and farmers market: Booths fill the lawn in front of Peg Bond Center, Peace Plaza, and Appleton Park behind City Hall. The season’s final Batavia Farmers’ Market runs alongside on Houston Street. There’s also a Scouts pumpkin roll, a Monster Mash dance lesson, and a 1PM “Thriller” performance by Batavia Academy of Dance to close out the day.
Costume contests for all: Kids and groups compete at 12:15PM in five age group categories. Pets will have their contest at 12:45PM.
Several shops are adding their own twists, from a hair tinsel pop-up at Sturdy Shelter Brewing to 10% off black and orange clothing at Paula’s. The full schedule and activity locations can be found here.
Information provided by Batavia MainStreet.
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