Nightmare on Chicago Street will return to downtown Elgin on Oct. 16 and 17, expanding to two nights for the first time since its debut in 2012, according to a May 29 announcement from the City of Elgin.
The event, produced by the City of Elgin, is described as the Midwest’s largest immersive horror event. This year it will introduce Nightmare on Chicago Street: The Arrival, a new concert-focused experience taking place Friday night on Chicago Street. The Arrival will center around a main stage featuring three national touring artists and include immersive entertainment, food and beverage vendors, a haunted attraction, and access to Cirq D’ Freak, one of the event’s signature themed zones.
“The Arrival is really geared toward those who love music and all things horror,” said Amanda Harris, director of cultural arts and special events. “People who come will get to see incredible bands in our unique downtown location, along with sneak peeks of what’s to come during Saturday night’s event. Nightmare on Chicago Street has always pushed the limits of a city-produced event, so we’re really excited to expand it and keep raising the bar for what Elgin can do.”
The traditional Nightmare on Chicago Street experience returns Saturday night with eight blocks of downtown transformed into an interactive post-apocalyptic landscape featuring themed environments, live entertainment, specialty performers, and immersive attractions. Returning experiences include Plaza Mictlán, Cirq D’ Freak, Kingdom of Plantae, the “Safe” Zone, The Blood Lands, and Svengoolie’s B-Movie Boulevard as well as featured haunted attraction Nightmare Alley.
Organizers said that the lineup for three national touring artists performing at The Arrival will be announced in early June. Tickets for both Friday’s The Arrival and Saturday’s main event are set to go on sale in June. Event updates including ticket sales information can be found through social media pages or by signing up via the official website.
Since its debut in 2012, Nightmare on Chicago Street has grown into one of the region’s premier Halloween events, attracting more than 20,000 attendees annually. The event features professional actors, dancers, and performers interacting with guests throughout each evening alongside three stages of live music plus food and beverage vendors.
