The Village of Lincolnshire’s annual Boo Bash attracted an estimated 800 to 1,200 attendees to North Park, 1025 Riverwoods Road, on Friday, Oct. 25 for a three-hour free event starting at 5 p.m.
Shuttle buses were available to supplement parking needs also from Banner Day Camp, Daniel Wright Junior High School and Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church.
Friday evening’s weather offered a banner sunset with crisp autumn temperatures hovering around 60 degrees.
Attractions included a performance by the Lincolnshire Bolts, hay rides, inflatables, a haunted trail in the woods, community tables, balloon twisting, a pumpkin patch with pumpkin decorating and an appearance by The Great Boodini of Arlington Heights who is renowned for fire dancing skills.
While Boo Bash was free to attend, the Village of Lincolnshire encouraged donations of non-perishable food items. Local Rotarians collected donations to benefit the Vernon Township Food Pantry in Buffalo Grove and Sue’s Pantry of Vernon Hills.
Yates McLaughlin, a management analyst for the Village of Lincolnshire, indicated the village assumed a larger role with Boo Bash in 2015 and has hosted the event at North Park every year excluding 2020 since then.
“Boo Bash has taken on a world of its own the past few years and we get a numerous amount of different community organizations connected together through providing different activities,” McLaughlin said.
“They’re the ones who really lead the event and make sure that families who come in the Lincolnshire area can feel connected and feel like they’re part of a grander thing during the fall season. It’s one of our biggest events throughout the year and it’s one that I think the community cherishes a lot and looks forward to year after year,” McLaughlin said.
“I think it really comes down to the community organization involvement,” McLaughlin added.
“It’s really an experience where we can feel connected as a community and a regional community where families get together and celebrate with each other.”
A large audience of friends and family turned out for the performance of the Lincolnshire Bolts, an organization that brought athleticism, dance and poms fanfare.
Mike Henning of Lincolnshire, the parent of Mara Henning, 7, a second-grader, was in the audience with other supporters to see the Lincolnshire Bolts perform.
“This is our first year living here so it’s really neat to see this,” Mara’s father said. “It’s special.”
Dana Tanner of Waukegan attended with family and stood in line for balloon art for daughter Dawson, 2.
“We love coming to events like this because it is so much fun to see the world through her eyes and she has so much fun, so I love bringing her to places to help her make memories,” Dawson’s mother said.
Brittany Tazzioli of Gurnee was dressed as the Hulk and also attended with family.
“It’s a great opportunity for all the kids and families to be together and have fun without worrying about the extra stress of the cost,” Tazzioli said.
Taking a hayride was the Lincolnshire family of Bo Li and JinJin Gao and their children Grace Li, 3, and Jack Li, 5, a kindergartner.
“I love it,” the children’s father Bo Li said about Boo Bash. “We actually just moved here and this is the first time at this event and we love it, the kids are having so much fun.
“I love this town.”
Li was impressed to hear that volunteers and community groups have a significant role in making Boo Bash possible.
“Thank you for putting this on, this is such a wonderful event,” Li said. “It’s very nice.”
Patron Jayne Beeson of Hawthorn Woods said to contributors, “Thanks to the volunteers for putting on a great family event.”
Yates McLaughlin also said to volunteers, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, the event would not happen without you and the village is eternally grateful for all of the volunteering hours and the time that people take away from home to dedicate the time to the community and to bring everybody together.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelnacer for Pioneer Press.
