Do you remember as a kid, dressing up in a costume, ringing neighborhood doorbells and saying “Trick or Treat”? Thought to begin in the 1920, trick or treating gained in popularity by the 1950’s. With the help of television and comics, dressing up and roaming the neighborhood became a yearly tradition for Halloween. Each region of the country has different spin on this tradition. In recent years, trunk or treat has become a popular alternative for many families. Even the term “trick or treat” has been changed for many to Beggars' Night. In Champaign County, the dates and times may vary, so make sure to check with your local community to find out when your beggars’ night is. 

Do you believe in ghost stories? Just about every town has a story of a places thought to be haunted. Champaign County is no different. There are a few legends that have become more popular over the years. Almost every town has a “cry baby bridge”. A bridge where a baby was tragically killed, usually in a car accident, and you can hear the cries of the baby at night. In Cable, there is a such a bridge where you can hear the cries of the baby and her mother if you cross the bridge at midnight. In the Evergreen Cemetery, located in St. Paris, there is a tombstone that mysteriously glows at night. The Champaign Economic Partnership(CEP) has even been told that a ghost haunts the hallways of 40 Monument Square, though it's yet to be seen. 

Probably one of the most notable ghost stories is the one of our late President, Abraham Lincoln. It is said every April, the Lincoln funeral train takes a ghostly ride and can be seen on the train tracks in Urbana where the original train stopped. So, this Halloween keep your eye out for those ghosts roaming around, calling Champaign County home.