Bennett Park was alive with excitement and maybe a little undead during this year’s Haunted Hills of Palos event on October 17 and 18. Families packed the park for the popular haunted hayride, which Mayor Gerald Bennett called “probably the best night we’ve ever had.”
With cool, breezy weather and a festive crowd, it was everything a Halloween night should be: mild, spooky, and full of laughter.
“This is a typical Halloween night, mild, breezy, and definitely scary,” Mayor Bennett said, smiling. “Our staff does a great job putting this all together. Public Works, the Resource Department, everyone plays a part.”
Among the crowd was Charlotte Ansted, who once served as Junior Mayor. She was seen chatting with Mayor Bennett before the hayride began.
Alderman Mike Price praised the team’s attention to detail. “Beautiful work. They did an excellent job on all the scenery,” he said. “Each year they change something different, and I love it. The chainsaws, people popping out, the sudden scares are awesome. But honestly, my favorite part is hearing the kids get freaked out. You can tell they’re having a blast.”
Kristin Violante, community resource and parks commissioner, said the event’s success comes down to teamwork and community pride. “It’s a combined effort between Public Works and our department,” she said. “We also get help from a Boy Scout troop from Burr Ridge, Girl Scouts, and students from Stagg High School. It’s really nice to see the community come together.”
Violante credited her staff, Kelly Schaefer, Sophia Alfaro, and Selena Tomas, for helping bring the haunted trail to life. “They were such a huge help. I couldn’t have done this without them,” she said.
This year’s hayride included a new element of surprise that had guests jumping: a “plant” that suddenly came to life. “We had someone dressed as a planter, perfectly still, and just when people thought it was decoration, it moved,” Violante laughed. “No one sees it coming.”
The Public Works crew and volunteers went all out this year, clearly inspired by a few visits to Spirit Halloween. Between the creative props, detailed costumes, and eerie lighting, every stop along the trail offered something new and plenty of screams.
Performers were seen with glowing lights and scarves dancing, and guests joined in.
Families from Palos Hills and across town came ready for a good fright. Giovanni Minogue, riding with his mom Katie, stayed calm through every scare. “This is Megatron,” he said proudly.
Nearby, 7-year-old Jhene Pitts and her 4-year-old sister Desirae clung to each other while laughing between screams. The kids loved posing with the props for pictures, especially the “beheaded” photo stand where they could stick their heads through and play dead.
They came with Samantha Rivera and Jervante McLaughlin, who said the family looks forward to the Haunted Hills of Palos hayride every year. “We come back because we love jump scares. It’s part of our Halloween tradition now,” Samantha said.
The Hickory/Palos Sertoma Club was also on site, lending their support and joining in the fun.
Local business owner Gustavo from Boba Heaven in Palos Heights once again donated concessions for the hardworking volunteers, something he has done for the past six years. “He doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but he’s here every year making sure our volunteers are taken care of,” Violante noted.
Setting up for Haunted Hills of Palos begins about two weeks before opening night, with Public Works handling much of the heavy lifting.
Each year, the team adds new surprises to keep the experience fresh and spooky. “I love hearing the kids having fun,” Mayor Bennett said. “Some of it’s scary, some of it’s funny, but people appreciate the effort everyone puts into it.”
Between the screams, the laughs, and the sheer fun of it all, it was the perfect recipe for a spooky night in Palos Hills.
