2020 has presented all of us with many challenges. While Chicago has been affected by this storm, a small group of public and private citizens have come together to “Celebrate Halloween Safely” in Chicago this year, and Envisionit is proud to be a part of making it happen.
The Blommer Chocolate Company (a Chicago-based company since 1939) approached the Mayor’s Office with a few questions in early June: is Chicago celebrating Halloween this year? And how can we help?
“As an industrial chocolate supplier, Halloween is obviously important to our bottom line and our customers.’ With that said, Blommer recognizes how important Halloween is to the families of our employees as well as our city. We wanted to contribute to the fun and lively spirit of Halloween by making it possible to have a safe Halloween celebration during this Covid environment in Chicago.” -Robert Karr, Jr., Chief Legal Counsel, Blommer Chocolate Company.
With that, a committed group came together—led by the Mayor’s Office—to make Halloween happen safely in Chicago. The Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Police Department, The One Chicago Fund, My CHI. My Future., Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, LUMA8, Xfinity, The Blommer Chocolate Company, and Envisionit began a weekly task force. What evolved was a theme and a campaign to drive awareness of how to celebrate Halloween safely this year. Envisionit was thrilled for the opportunity to lend our creative and strategic capabilities to create a logo lockup and assets for the initiative.
“Halloween means so much to our kids, and after so much has been taken away, it’s important for all of us that we still give them something to look forward to this October,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “But ’Halloweek’ is about more than just having a week of fun Halloween-related activities, it’s also about us as a city continuing to find new opportunities to come together in healthy and safe ways throughout this unprecedented moment.” – Mayor Lori Lightfoot on October 15th.
Working with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Michael Fassnacht, the City of Chicago’s CMO, led the charge in defining the messaging guidelines for safe celebration.
We punched up the guidelines and added fun visuals for social sharing on the Mayor’s platforms, and Blommer was pivotal in sponsoring the campaign so we could reach a wide audience and do our best to educate Chicago residents about safe Halloween practices for celebrating and trick-or-treating.
The Mayor’s Office launched ChicagoHalloweek.org to provide information about virtual and safe in-person activities going on all Halloweek. A tool was included in the website to allow residents to identify activities going on in their neighborhood. More than 120 events are scheduled city-wide. The Chicago Park District extended their summer “Rolling Recreation” program into Halloweek, visiting 15 neighborhoods, providing supervised activities for children both in person and online. Many volunteers came together at Wintrust Arena to stuff 10,000 Halloween trick-or-treat bags with donations from Jelly Belly, Mars Wrigley, Quaker, and Blommer along with jump ropes and recipes, and healthy work-out recommendations and activity sheets from the Chicago Public Library.
Halloweek culminates on October 31st with the Arts in the Dark Upside Down Halloween Parade in Washington Park from 12-3 pm. The parade is a “reverse” experience, spectators will drive their cars through a path of spooky spectacles, performances and floats. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Teamwork makes Halloweek work!
