SYCAMORE – The ghosts will be out early in Sycamore as downtown businesses once again will provide a trick-or-treat experience Wednesday during the kickoff to Pumpkin Fest.

Discover Sycamore has teamed up with more than 25 local businesses to give area families a chance to explore Sycamore’s establishments, while children get an early start on stockpiling Halloween candy. The event has expanded to include businesses off State Street, such as Shawn’s Coffee House, for the first time.

Lauren Diehl, director of Discover Sycamore, said the downtown trick-or-treating event has grown into a popular staple in the past four years, with more than 1,000 people participating in 2011.