Today: October 25, 2026
Today: October 25, 2026

"Freaky Frights" continues decades of Halloween thrills in North Riverside, Illinois

October 25, 2026
CNN - LA Post

    CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Halloween is just a week away, but one west suburban neighborhood celebrated Freaky Frights on Friday night. Neighbors in North Riverside have been going all out for the holiday for more than 20 years.

Every year, Forrest Avenue in North Riverside transforms into Bloody Boulevard. Jose Frausto and his 2-year-old son Sebastian were among the hundreds who will fill the street for a true treat.

"It really attracts a lot of people. Towards Halloween, you'll probably see like 100 people just walking by. You can't find parking sometimes; you have to park 3-4 blocks away," Frausto said.

Starting the week before the Halloween, those young and old take the scary stroll through the dark and smoky lane.

Mark Sajatovic personally decorates the yards of his neighbors, with their permission, of course.

"I just use their land for couple of weeks," he said.

The attention Sajatovic puts into the details is gruesome and jaw dropping.

"I just love it. I just keep doing it every year. I think of things during the summer. I go to Halloween shows to get ideas. So I just keep trying to add," he said.

For 40 years, he has kept adding more spook for the spectators.

Neighbor Danny Vlach visited the block years ago. Then, in 2014, a house was for sale across from Sajatovic.

"I needed a house badly, and then this one came up. I walked through the front door. I said sign the contract, we're buying this one," Vlach said.

One key reason is Vlach now gets to put a big display out front himself and add to what Sajatovic's been doing for decades.

"It's like bar none my favorite holiday ever," he said.

So many people, not to mention trick-or-treaters, will come to the block that Vlach admits he dishes out a lot of cash for the treats, buying 2,000 pieces of candy.

"Money, that's whatever. We can make more money," he said. "We've got to make more memories."

There's nothing that will truly make your stomach turn, because just about everyone leaves with a big smile on their face.

"I have parents now when they were little kids, and they have kids of their own. That's how long I've been doing it. It's incredible," Sajatovic said.

The incredibly creepy and captivating concept runs through Halloween night.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Related

Africa|Americas|Arts|Asia|Australia|Business|Celebrity|Crime|Economy|Education|Election|Entertainment|Environment|Europe|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Food|Health|Interview|Lifestyle|MidEast|Opinion|Political|Science|Sports|Stock Markets|Technology|Travel|US|Videos|World

Israel presses ahead with West Bank operation as election approaches

Arts|Economy|Europe

France sees another weekend of mass protests as thousands rally across Europe

Americas|Arts|Asia|Europe|Health|MidEast|World

Pope Leo calls for Yemen violence to end, in address two weeks after surgery

Arts|Crime|Europe|MidEast|World

Jordan church attack survivor says her cousin died before her eyes

Local

Local

Most diverse counties in California

Local

From LA to Scottsdale: The Founder Behind AdDynamix Is Building the Bridge Between AI and Business Tools

Share This

Popular

Africa|Americas|Arts|Asia|Australia|Business|Celebrity|Crime|Economy|Education|Election|Entertainment|Environment|Europe|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Food|Health|Interview|Lifestyle|MidEast|Opinion|Political|Science|Sports|Stock Markets|Technology|Travel|US|Videos|World

Israel presses ahead with West Bank operation as election approaches

Arts|Economy|Europe

France sees another weekend of mass protests as thousands rally across Europe

Americas|Arts|Asia|Europe|Health|MidEast|World

Pope Leo calls for Yemen violence to end, in address two weeks after surgery

Arts|Crime|Europe|MidEast|World

Jordan church attack survivor says her cousin died before her eyes

Entertainment

Arts|Economy|Education|Election|Entertainment|Europe|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Food|Interview|Lifestyle|MidEast|Science|Sports|Technology|US|Videos

Brazil votes in tight runoff between leftist Lula and Bolsonaro Jr

Arts|Business|Celebrity|Crime|Economy|Election|Entertainment|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Lifestyle|Science|Technology|US|World

The midterm election outcomes that could shape Trump's final two years

Arts|Election|Entertainment|Europe|Interview|Lifestyle|MidEast|World

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly in for pivotal vote

Entertainment|Sports

Nylander scores twice to reach 300 NHL goals as Maple Leafs rout Oilers 7-2