Children, parents and volunteers turned out in force at the Children’s Safety Village for trick or treating on Halloween Monday.
The miniature streets were packed with children of all ages in a wide array of colourful or frightful costumes, rushing from building to building while volunteers handed out a wide variety of treats.
Bridget Peters (right) with her aunt Gail Peters (left), showing off her ghost costume while trick or treating at the Children’s Safety Village. Photo by: Alan-Michael Steele
Even the parents were getting in on the costume action, dressing up with their children as they walked through the village with them.
From left to right: Emily (as Pikachu), Jessica (as Team Rocket), and Samuel Larson (as Ash Ketchum) out trick or treating at the Children’s Safety Village. Photo By: Alan-Michael Steele
The children who came to the event were looking forward to a few different things. Bridget Peters, who was dressed as a ghost, said she was looking forward to seeing all the costumes and spending time with her friends.
A lot of children, including Emily and Samuel Larson, were more focused on getting their hands on their favourite candy and treats.
Many parents were happy to have a safe environment to bring their kids to, pointing out that they didn’t have to worry about traffic or other hazards while the children got to have fun.
“It’s great to see people after COVID and it’s just a nice safe environment where kids don’t have to worry about traffic and stranger danger and things like that. So it’s really great to see this event back after so many years,” said Jessica Larson, who was visiting with her children.
So many children came out that they almost ran out of treats. Executive Director Bill Glisky said they almost used up all the candy and treats they had intended to use over the whole night within the first half hour, and needed to have volunteers make emergency trips to get more. They sent volunteers out again after an hour of festivities, as they were running low a second time.
From left to right: Lauren (as Batgirl), Claire (as a Ninja Turtle) and their mother Jessica at the Children’s Safety Village during the Halloween trick or treating event. Photo by Alan-Michael Steele
Volunteers from various community groups decorated the buildings in the village, and handed out treats to the children while in their own costumes.
This was the first regular and fully open Halloween event held at the village post COVID, which had forced the village to take precautionary measures in previous years and track attendees.
