Treats abound as DeKalb residents don costumes for Halloween

DeKALB – The DeKalb streets were filled early on Halloween, with costume-clad children looking to get their hands on some sweet treats.

“My favorite thing about Halloween is all the candy I get,” said Nolan Tobin, 11, of DeKalb, who went as Jason Voorhees for Halloween, a fictional character from the “Friday the 13th” series.

Aidan Kahl, 11, of DeKalb, went as a dinosaur. Kahl and Tobin go trick-or-treating every year together.

Whether it was a pail, bucket or pillow case, the DeKalb streets were filled with families looking to fill up with as much candy as possible.

New residents, Mark and Cathy Ecker said they just moved to DeKalb from Naperville and are celebrating their first Halloween in the area.

“Interacting with the parents and getting to know all the neighbors is something we looked forward to,” Mark Ecker said.

Calvin Wantland, 9, of DeKalb, dressed as his favorite superhero Spider-Man. Wantland was one of the first children who made his way over to the Ecker residence to enjoy some candy in their bowl, propped up right next to their campfire for warmth.

According to the National Retail Federation, traditional Halloween activities involve handing out candy, dressing up in costume, with 52% of those celebrating Halloween getting in the spirit by decorating their home or yard. Total spending on decorations was expected to reach an all-time high of $3.3 billion this year.

“I want kids to know it’s okay to be scared, as long as you laugh later, that is the fun of Halloween,” said Lisa Gordon-Ahrens, who spent two weeks setting up her front yard for kids of all ages to enjoy.

“The kids absolutely love it,” she said.

Gordon-Ahrens said she’s decorated her home for haunted holiday for the past six years.

“That is what makes Halloween fun.”