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Trail of Treats aims for safe Halloween

STEPHEN ROBERTS stephen.roberts@saltwire.com

Vampires and witches, zombies and goblins, superheroes and ghosts, and all kinds of spooky creatures will be haunting downtown Amherst on Halloween afternoon once again this year.

The trick or treaters will be out a little earlier as they go from table-to-table, procuring their treats as part of the second annual Trail of Treats event.

This year, the event will be held at Victoria Park and the whole “four-block area” downtown. Businesses and other community groups will have tables set up where they will hand out treats to the costumed youngsters. The event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.

The pandemic has forced people to improvise for Halloween and Amherst is no different.

The Trail of Treats event was started last year by Town of Amherst Coun. Dale Fawthrop in partnership with three local organizations: Maggie’s Place, the YMCA of Cumberland and the Four Fathers Memorial.

Fawthrop came up with the idea to ensure parents and children could have a fun and safe Halloween during the pandemic.

“I approached three organizations that are very community minded,” Fawthrop told The Cumberland Wire.

They formed a committee and went to different businesses seeing if they were interested in participating in the concept.

With about 20 businesses spaced around town, 500 children attended, going table-totable with their parents to get their treats.

All the while, they adhered to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.

Fawthrop called last year’s event “an overwhelming success.”

“It was the first time in a number of years where the downtown was filled with children and parents, and it was quite a good sight to see,” he said.

Now, with Nova Scotia still in a modified phase five and some parents still reluctant to go door-to-door, and many residents nervous to hand out treats, it made sense to do Trail of Treats again this year.

More than 20 businesses and organizations are participating. The area will be closed to traffic for two hours while Trail of Treats is underway.

“There’s lots of space, there’s no reason for people to crowd a table,” explained Fawthrop. “It’s all in the open, all outside. They will be able to walk down the middle of the road.”

The committee provides volunteers to hand out the treats.

“We have loads of volunteers because the people of Amherst like to participate in community events,” said Fawthrop.

Businesses have the option of providing volunteers with treats.

The committee also has a grant from the Town of Amherst to provide charitable organizations treats. The committee ensures there’s enough goodies for everyone and keep extras in their vehicles to keep tables running.

While he suggested the idea initially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fawthrop believes it is something they can continue to do.

Beyond the pandemic, he sees some advantages to having such an event during the day.

For one, he said, you can see the costumes more vividly in daylight. Secondly, he says it’s better for parents with very young children to get out early before their child’s bedtime.

The Trail of Treats event fits in with the operations of each of the three organizing groups as well.

He noted the three organizations participating in the committee are all very family oriented and work with children. As for him, he’s a retired teacher.

“For us to do this, it’s rewarding, it’s exciting, to be able to provide these experiences,” he said.

Fawthrop stressed the event is not weather depending. It will be going ahead rain or shine.

Trail of Treats organizers are posting a map on social media so parents will know where the tables will be placed and what businesses are participating.

It will be available on the Maggie’s Place, YMCA of Cumberland, Cumberland Public Libraries and the

Town of Amherst Facebook pages.

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2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

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