The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) is now accepting entries for its first ever Virtual Halloween Costume Pageant and Contest. The virtual costume pageant will be broadcast on the MAC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/atthemac) beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 30 and will available for viewing throughout Halloween weekend. The contest is open to children ages 3-11 as well as pets in DuPage County. This event is sponsored by the Glen Ellyn Sweet Shoppe and the Two Bostons Pet Shop of Wheaton.
Per MAC Director Diana Martinez, “We know COVID-19 distancing protocols mean kids and their families won’t be able to celebrate in Halloween Parades as they usually do, so we wanted to do something special to help the residents of DuPage County celebrate in a fun and safe way.”
There are two Virtual Halloween Costume Pageant and Contest categories: Children (ages 3-11) and Pets. First-, Second- and Third-Prize winners will be selected in both categories.
Prizes for the Children’s category include Halloween-themed, candy-filled gift baskets provided by the Glen Ellyn Sweet Shoppe. Prizes for the Pet’s category are provided by Two Bostons Pet Shop of Wheaton and include a Two Bostons cookie tray variety pack with limited edition Halloween Puppy Kisses. The First-Prize also includes a $10 gift certificate and more. Second-Prize also includes a $7 gift certificate and Third-Prize, a $5 gift certificate. All winners in both categories will receive a family pass to the New Philharmonic’s Holiday Sing-Along with the Symphony virtual concert (Dec. 12-13).
Entrants to the Virtual Halloween Costume Pageant and Contest must have a DuPage County address. Those wishing to enter should send a 10-20 second video of their child or pet in their Halloween costume. For their videos, child entrants should, in the spirit of their costume character, say “Hello!” or “Trick or Treat!” (or a greeting of their choice) directed to viewers. Contestants will be judged on costume originality and video greeting.
Entry forms and submission details may be found at AtTheMAC.org/Events/Costume-Pageant. Entries must be received by Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. Entries will be judged on costume originality and video greeting. The parade will be available for viewing on the MAC’s Facebook page beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 30. Parade viewers can help the MAC decide the winners by mentioning their favorite contestants in the comments. The winners will be announced on the MAC’s Facebook page at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.
About the MAC
The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is located at 425 Fawell Ave., 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. Visit www.AtTheMAC.org or www.facebook.com/AtTheMAC for more information.
The MAC’s 2020-2021 season is made possible in part with support by DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville, WDCB 90.9 FM and the College of DuPage Foundation.
Established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization in 1967, the College of DuPage Foundation raises monetary and in-kind gifts to increase access to education and to enhance cultural opportunities for the surrounding community. For more information about the College of DuPage Foundation, visit foundation.cod.edu or call 630.942.2462. Programs at the MAC are partially supported through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.