Logan Square residents are once again turning the 2400 and 2500 blocks of Bernard Street into a neighborhood‑wide Halloween celebration. For the third year, longtime homeowner Nelson Gonzalez and artist partner Beth LeFauve have expanded their elaborate, hand‑crafted display across three yards, creating a moving spectacle that delights families and reinforces the area’s tradition of safe, community‑focused trick‑or‑treating.
Home‑grown Halloween artistry
Gonzalez, an electrical engineer who has been a Bernard Street resident for 33 years, began building Halloween displays in 2003. Since 2015 he has collaborated with LeFauve, an artist who “decorates to make them look real cool.” This year’s installation features 16 moving parts, including a 10‑foot spider constructed from pool noodles, foam and cornstalks, a levitating lady above a coffin, a pumpkin‑headed scarecrow, and a corn‑head monster that emerges from a well. The figures are powered by Gonzalez’s engineering know‑how, while LeFauve adds the finishing artistic touches.
“Little by little, we’ll be putting more animation,” Gonzalez said of the Portuguese‑style cemetery segment of the display. He also plans to add a thunder effect with flashing lights, promising even more excitement as Halloween approaches.
Street closure makes trick‑or‑treating safer
Longtime resident Liz Tate, who has lived on Bernard Street for about 35 years, helped organize a temporary street closure for the event. The 2400 block will be closed to traffic from the alley near Fullerton to Altgeld, and the 2500 block from Altgeld to Wrightwood, with Altgeld itself remaining open. The closure runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, allowing children to move safely from house to house.
“The neighbors loved it. The families loved it,” Tate said. “It just keeps trick‑or‑treating a little safer.” Last year, Tate and another neighbor handed out roughly 2,000 pieces of candy, while Gonzalez distributed about 2,100.
Live music adds a new dimension
For the first time, live music will accompany the Halloween festivities. Local musician Matt Stark has arranged for The Scrappy Rat Picnic and Variety Orchestra to perform Saturday night. Band member Joey Spilberg described the group as “a ragtag band of misfits and scoundrels” who plan to dress in whimsical costumes ranging from household furniture to the Scooby‑Doo crew.
The orchestra’s setlist may include original songs as well as covers of Celine Dion, Louis Armstrong, The Flaming Lips and Ween, offering a mix of familiar tunes and novelty performances for trick‑or‑treaters and their families.
Looking ahead to 2027
Gonzalez and LeFauve hope to expand the display even further next year, potentially recruiting another neighbor, Bill Kreischer, to bring a fourth yard into the fold. “We’re running out of space for stuff,” Gonzalez noted, underscoring the community’s enthusiasm for growing the tradition.
The Bernard Street Halloween block party exemplifies how neighborhood collaboration, creative expression and a focus on family safety can transform a simple street into a memorable holiday experience. Residents and visitors alike are invited to explore the animated displays, enjoy live music and partake in a safe, family‑friendly trick‑or‑treating environment.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
