Two women dressed in Halloween costumes attend the annual Halloween Parade in Chicago, the United States, on Oct. 31, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Around 1,000 people gathered in north Chicago's Boystown neighborhood for the 21st annual Northalsted Halloween Parade Tuesday night, rated one of the 10 best Halloween parades in the United States by Fodor's Travel Guide.

Hundreds of participants and spectators wore creative and extravagant costumes to celebrate, with many hoping to win the costume contest which awards 1,000 U.S. dollars in four categories: "most original," "best group costume," "best drag," and the "scariest."

Dressed as "cereal killers" this year, three visitors from Battle Creek, Michigan, and Washington D.C., who traveled across the country for the past six Halloweens, were among the spectators.

"We met in the Peace Corps so this started in the Peace Corps and we've been doing it ever since. We've been to D.C., we've been to Kalamazoo and Lansing, Michigan, and now Chicago," Jesse Garrison, dressed as breakfast cereal character Captain Crunch, told Xinhua. "We're thinking about New York or San Diego for (the) next year but we're not sure yet."

Chicago held many events during Halloween, including the Arts in the Dark parade and the Spooky Zoo Spectacular at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

"We've been here for a few days for a couple different events," said David Corsar, dressed as cereal box character Snap from Kellogg's Rice Krispies.

Along with the costumes on parade, a flash mob danced to Michael Jackson's popular Halloween song Thriller.