Waukegan’s Ricardo Alvarez was donned in full inflatable Minion wear on Oct. 31. But he wasn’t about to go trick-or-treating – he was about to get a hot dog.
Alvarez, 21, stood with family members and hundreds of others as the Lake Bluff Police Department held its annual Trick-or-Treat and Hot Dog Roast, a nearly 30-year staple in the village.
“From all over the North Shore area, people stop in,” Lake Bluff Police Chief David Belmonte said. “It has become a tradition for some North Shore families.”
Standing in line required some patience for Alvarez, who wore the oversized yellow garb because his brother loves the Minions from the “Despicable Me” movie franchise.
“It’s pretty hard to stand in this thing. I have to hold the eye,” Alvarez said.
Halloween revelers stopped by the event to grab free food – hot dogs, chips or pop – usually before or after trick or treating.
Belmonte wasn’t certain how many people would attend, but said in previous years, the Police Department handed out anywhere between 1,500 and 1,900 hot dogs, all of which were donated by a local supermarket.
Village President Kathleen O’Hara gave out pop to the collection of ghosts, goblins and a few superheroes that formed the curving line.
What did she like about the event?
“All the kids of all ages from lots of different communities that come here to help us celebrate the day,” she said.
She also said it sent a message about the people of the village: “I think this says that (Lake Bluff) is a welcoming, inclusive community.”
As he stood over the grill turning the hot dogs, Deputy Police Chief Mike Hosking admitted to some “mixed emotions” on his last day on the job in Lake Bluff. Pioneer Press previously reported that Hosking – who previously served as the Lake Forest Police Chief – was leaving Lake Bluff, where he had worked since 2014.
“I hate to leave, but I feel like I have done my job,” Hosking said. “They are able to promote a deputy chief and a sergeant from within, and I think I have completed my contract and I am ready to go. They gave me specific goals when I started, and I think I accomplished them. I’m very content and I am very proud of these guys to get themselves ready.”
But Hosking added in a touch of melancholy.
“I’m going to miss this place,” he said. “This is hometown Americana.”
Also in line was Luis Hernandez of Chicago, who came with his family to see friends in Lake Bluff. He said it was the third year they came to the hot dog fest. And even though hot dogs were on the menu, he came dressed as an oversized cheeseburger.
“It has a small town feel and it is very safe,” Hernandez said of why he stops by.
Coming for the second time was Tina Schwartz, who moved to Lake Bluff just over a year ago. Her son, Evan, 9, was dressed as the grim reaper.
“He likes to be something scary,” she said.
Schwartz was enjoying the festivities in her adopted hometown.
“This is amazing because so many kids come out,” she said. “It’s a real community event.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
