Lake Bluff families will line up at the police station Saturday, Oct. 31, where officers plan to grill between 1,500 and 2,000 hot dogs at the department's annual roast.
The tradition dates to 1987, The Lake Bluff Chat reported in a feature on the village's Halloween preparations. With Halloween landing on a Saturday this year, the village expects close to 2,000 trick-or-treaters across its decorated streets. The Chat's full story profiles several families going all-in on decorations and candy, including a 951-pound pumpkin and one household that spends more than $300 on treats.
The Village of Lake Bluff website lists official trick-or-treat hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31. Lake Forest's hours extend to 8 p.m., according to Patch.
In prior years, the roast has been held at the Public Safety Building at 45 E. Center Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m., according to a 2024 Village of Lake Bluff newsletter. The village has not separately confirmed the 2026 roast's start time or location.
Families gather at the police station before heading out to trick-or-treat. The roast gives longtime residents a chance to reconnect and newer families an easy place to meet neighbors, according to The Lake Bluff Chat.
Lake Bluff Police Chief Matt Smizinski praised the event. "The Police Department is a part of Lake Bluff, but this is one of the many ways we are able to further connect with the entire community," he said, according to The Lake Bluff Chat.
This year's roast is supported by Heinen's, Target, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Knauz, the Kiwanis Club of Lake Bluff and Lake Forest, and Apex Signs and Graphics, The Lake Bluff Chat reported.
Among the residents preparing for the evening is Krista Hugill, who lives on Center Avenue near the police station. Hugill typically buys between 10 and 15 Costco bags of candy, a bill that can top $300, according to The Lake Bluff Chat. Winslow and Soumaya Bent, who moved to the village in late 2024, told the publication their display this year features a 951-pound pumpkin purchased at an auction in central Illinois.
In past years, the roast has run until hot dogs are gone. Families looking for the full picture of Lake Bluff's Halloween scene can find it in The Lake Bluff Chat's Oct. 27 feature.
