Nightmare on Chicago Street is expanding to two days, but the End of Summer Bash is ending as Elgin’s Cultural Arts and Special Events departments make some changes for next year’s festival season.

“Nightmare has continued to grow, but we all know it can’t essentially grow outside the footprint that it’s in,” said Amanda Harris, director of Cultural Arts and Special Events, during the city’s Nov. 12 budget meeting.

But it can be expanded to Friday night.

The popular, apocalyptic, zombie-themed Halloween festival is held downtown and has drawn crowds of up to 15,000. Last year, the festival sold out, Harris said. This year, it came close to selling out, she said. Harris didn’t provide any specific attendance figures this year.

Plans are in the works to develop a Friday night concert on

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