The streets of downtown Carbondale transformed into a festive hub of art, music and family fun on Friday, Oct. as the city hosted a hybrid Homecoming and Halloween street festival on The Strip.
This year’s festivities shut down the town’s iconic Strip and included two stages with four bands, a variety of vendors and food trucks, and interactive activities like a rock wall provided by Touch of Nature.
Dena Haun, Carbondale’s Tourism and Special Events Coordinator, helped organize the event in collaboration with sponsors, city departments and community partners. Haun noted that the event grew out of previous years’ successful Sunset Concert and Off the Rails concert series and the Strip has evolved to include more cultural and artistic aspects.
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“We wanted to make it a well-rounded event — family-friendly with student engagement, live music, and the Candy Walk,” Haun said. “It was a big collaboration, but when everyone contributes what they offer, the community benefits.”
For many attendees, the event was a mix of thrills and sweet treats.
A young girl with her parents who was dressed in a police officer costume, Dre’leigh Moore said, “I like this thing. It’s the best thing ever.”
Navaya Johnson, who cosplayed as Chuckie said, “It’s actually a great day. It feels good… a lot of stuff for the community.”
Yahaira “Yaya” Vargas emphasized the importance of local art and youth participation.
“All of these items showcase local artists — kids and adults alike. Artistic expression teaches positivity and resilience,” Vargas said. “It keeps creativity flowing and gives young people something to work toward.”
To also celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Varsity hosted a traditional altar that featured intricate markers, butterflies, flowers, and other symbols that honor departed loved ones. Vargas explained that the altar also included a student-produced corrido — a Mexican folk song — that tells the story of a local figure, highlighting the creative efforts of Carbondale youth.
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“This is our second year hosting the Community Altar,” said Vargas, executive director of Southern Illinois Culture and Arts and Bilingual Education. “Last year we went electronic, but this year, thanks to generous donations, we were able to do a more traditional altar. We also hosted a design contest for local students. The first-place winner gets a pop-up gallery downtown during one of the highest traffic times.”
With the streets alive with color, music, and laughter, the Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival reflected the town’s community spirit.
“Events like this provide a higher quality of life for the southern Illinois region and bring everyone together,” Haun said. “And we’re already looking forward to next year.”
For more information on ongoing events in Carbondale this Halloween season, visit CarbondaleHalloween.com.
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