BatFest Set for Spooktacular Fun Oct 28th and 29th
10-21-05

Batavia, IL: The 5th Annual BatFest activities kick off Friday October 28th with Family Movies on the Batavia Riverwalk at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Kane County Chronicle. "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is featured at 7:00 followed by Nosveratu the Vampyre (for older families) at about 7:30 p.m. Moviegoers should bring lawn chairs and blankets. Movies will not be shown in the rain or very high winds. Also debuting Friday night is Albright Theatre's "An Adaptation of the Fabulous Fable Factory" at 7 p.m.
on the 4th floor of City Hall. Additional performances are scheduled for 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday morning starts with an opportunity to give back at the Dracula Blood Drive from 8 am - Noon at River West Family Fitness (108 First Street). Volunteers are still needed to donate blood and should call River West directly at 879-8889 to secure a time slot or stop by in person at the front desk. Heartland Blood Center encourages donors to "give a pint for a quart," as they are rewarding donors with a certificate for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream. Blood drive is sponsored by Harris and River West.

Activity picks up from 10-12 a.m. as an annual favorite, Downtown Trick-or-Treating takes place; families should look for businesses posting a bright orange "Trick or Treat here" sign in the window to indicate they are participating. Also from 10-12, kids will want to join in on the Wanda the Witch Scavenger Hunt to find all six parts of Wanda downtown (hint:
businesses are located between Rt. 31 and Rt. 25 on Wilson, N. Island Ave and N. River St.). Kids will be given a punch card necklace at the BatFest information tent along Houston St. at the Riverwalk, or a limited supply are available at each of the six mystery locations where Wanda's parts will be prominently displayed. Be on the lookout for a hat, broom, stockings and shoes, dress, cape and cauldron! Get all six punches and enter the drawing for a chance to win prizes. Wanda the Witch Scavenger Hunt is sponsored by Bryan Team Real Estate.
Pie bakers should plan to enter their fruit or cream pie in the "MainStreet Great American Pie Bake-Off." Bakers should check in their pie at the Peg Bond Center between 10 -11 a.m. Saturday with judging at 11. Winners are announced at 2:00 p.m. and extra slices served to hungry BatFest goers for $2.00 per slice.

Grab a quick bite for lunch from Ugly's on the Riverwalk or from a downtown restaurant, and then it's off to "Spooktacular Stories" at the Batavia Public Library in their courtyard from 12:30 - 1 p.m. (indoors if bad weather). The Batavia Mother's Club Annual Costume Parade steps off from the library at 1:00 with police escort to the Riverwalk where treats will be available for participants. Enter the kids in the Mother's Club Costume Contest at 1:30 p.m.in one of three categories: "Most Unique," "Spookiest"
or "Best Bat Theme" to win prizes.

Riverwalk activities are in full swing from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., including a hayride to benefit the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. Families wishing to take a hayride should bring a canned good or offer a cash donation in return for the hayride to help restock the Food Pantry's shelves. Thanks to George Hohmann and the Batavia Park District for providing the rides! More afternoon highlights include: Batavia Park District games (2-4 pm), sidewalk chalk art (2-5 pm), IMSA on Wheels kids physics show at 2:30, BATV screaming contest at 3:00, Sue's Family Hair Co. Scary Hair Contest at 3:30, Poster Contest winners at 3:45 and "Nights on the Town" raffle drawing at 4:30. Fall decorations are on sale at the information tent starting at 4:30 and include pumpkins, Indian corn, hay bales, corn stalks and mums for $5 each.

BatMart runs from 1-5 and features a Farmers' Market with favorite Paw Paw Farms, local artists and crafters, Batavia Jaycees and Funway's "BatBowl" as well as local community group bake sales, games and fundraisers from 1 - 5 p.m. on the Riverwalk. A complete schedule for BatFest is located online at www.downtownbatavia.com.

A BatFest thank you to the following businesses donating gift certificates and items for contest prizes: Avon, Citgo Service Center of Batavia, Baskin Robbin's, BP, Domino's Pizza, Dr. Wazio, First Street Playhouse, Funway, Katrina Salon & Spa, Midwest Video Value, Persimmon Tree Home, Smiling Fox Sweet Tooth, Toytown, and Wituk Martial Arts.

BatFest is presented by Batavia Main Street in partnership with Batavia Park District, Batavia Mother's Club, BATV and the City of Batavia. Sponsors for BatFest include: Vampire Bats: Valley Community Bank, SignTech and the Kane County Chronicle, Grey Bat: Moss Family Funeral Home and Brown Bat: Citgo Service Center of Batavia and Image Awards and Engraving plus event sponsor Harris. For more information, please contact the Batavia MainStreet office at 630-761-3528, email britta@downtownbatavia.com or check the schedule of events at www.downtownbatavia.com.

The Batavia MainStreet Program is one of 56 not-for-profit, community based organizations in the state of Illinois. The mission of Batavia MainStreet is to enhance the identity of Batavia's downtown area as the heart of our community. MainStreet members work through the four points: Design, Economic Restructuring, Organization and Promotion to improve the downtown district. MainStreet volunteers believe the revitalization of Downtown Batavia is essential to our community's sense of pride, place, and heritage for this and future generations. For more information Batavia MainStreet or to volunteer, please contact Britta McKenna at (630) 761-3528 or email britta@downtownbatavia.com.