Your Downers Grove Halloween Primer

•You may have seen it on our homepage, but if you haven't, Patch is running a contest where submitting photos of your kids in their Halloween costumes could help you win the grand prize of a trip to New York or Los Angeles for a two-day, three night trip that includes a meet-and-greet with Heidi Klum PLUS a donation of $1,031 to a local charity of your choosing. Here's a link to the story with more information.

• will present their 19th Annual Halloween Happening at the Saturday, October 29. As usual, there will be a costume contest followed by a free movie. Registration for the contest starts at 9 a.m. and the movie will start at 11 a.m.. This year's movie will be Mr. Popper's Penguins, and there will be complimentary photos taken by .

•There are no set trick-or-treating hours this year in Downers Grove, but trick-or-treating will be on Monday, October 31 and the recommends activity cease when daylight ends.

•Also, posted on the website are some safety tips to follow this Halloween. Those tips are:

•Kids should trick-or-treat with parents or in groups-never alone.

•Wear light colored or reflective clothing.  Masks should not obstruct vision.

•Carry a flashlight after dark.

•Stay on sidewalks and never walk in the street.

•Cross streets carefully and always at corners-no jaywalking.

•Limit trick-or-treating to your immediate neighborhood.

•Trick-or-treat only at homes where outside lights are on.

•Only accept treats that are wrapped and securely sealed.

•Parents, check your child's treats before eating. 

•Vandalism is a crime.  Halloween is not an excuse to damage or destroy someone else's property. 

•If you're looking for some Halloween themed reading, Patch writer Sara Bieda recently asked the question: What is your Halloween candy strategy?

•If you need a last minute outing this weekend, Patch writer Kristin McCann put together a list of area Hallowen/Fall activities for you.

•And, if you're looking for something to watch, we've been running a video series about paranormal activity in the area. Those videos are:

Haunted Recording: Paranormal Research Team Investigates Rumored Restaurant Ghost

The Ghost and the Flashlight

EVP Caught on our Cameras?

Phantom House, Haunted Street Near White Cemetery?

Ghost Hunter Flashlight Phenomenon Explained?

Spirits Haunt Cuba Road, White Cemetery?

And, as always, if you send us photos of your costume or any pumpkins you carve, we'll put them up on Patch. You can send those photos to robert.bykowski@patch.com