On Saturday, Oct. 28, join The Parent Place and HSHS Medical Group for downtown Springfield’s first-ever Halloween parade. The family-friendly event will feature festive lighted floats, Mayor Jim Langfelder will as Grand Marshal, and Shawn Balint and Ray Lytle as emcees. The parade will follow the traditional downtown parade route, starting on Jefferson, traveling south down to Fifth Street, continuing on to Monroe, and back north up Sixth Street. Additional downtown-area evening events include opportunities for extended shopping as well as treats, activities and specials from downtown shops and restaurants through 6:30 p.m., plus a Halloween safety event for Pre-K through fifth graders featuring trunk-or-treating, face painting and other fun activities from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Fire Station #1, located at 825 E. Capitol St. Additionally, the Old State Capitol will host trick-or-treating for that same age group from 5:30-7:30 p.m., courtesy of the Illinois Executive Mansion Association. For more information about the Halloween Parade and other downtown Halloween events, visit http://downtownspringfield.org.