Glendale Heights launches Halloween house decorating contest

Glendale Heights is putting its spookiest front yards on a public map and letting neighbors pick the winner.

The Village of Glendale Heights opened registration Thursday, Oct. 1, for "Halloween in the Heights," a free house decorating contest that places participating homes on an interactive online map for public voting. Any Glendale Heights resident can sign up through Sunday, Oct. 18.

The village wants participants to go all out. Its announcement invites homeowners to display "creepy, crawly, cute, fun, or over-the-top fall decorations" in front of their homes. There are no entry fees and no style restrictions beyond curb visibility.

Once registration closes, the village will review submissions and place approved homes on the Halloween in the Heights Interactive Map. Online voting opens Thursday, Oct. 22, and anyone can cast a vote. The three homes that collect the most public votes win.

Winners will be announced Saturday, Oct. 31, on the village's Facebook page (@voghnews) and contacted by phone. The village can also be followed on X at @voghnews for updates.

How to enter

Registration is open to all Glendale Heights residents at no cost. Sign up through the village's online entry form by Oct. 18. After the village approves an entry, the home appears on the interactive voting map.

Safety Town trick-or-treat returns Oct. 31

The Glendale Heights Police Department is also hosting its Safety Town Halloween event on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Children can walk the streets of Safety Town to collect candy from costumed characters. Kids should bring a bag or container.

Police Program Supervisor Tanya Macko coordinates the event. Residents who want to donate candy or need more information can email Macko at [email protected] or visit the Safety Town page on the village website.