Halloween happenings: tricks and treats in your townDate: 10/21/2020 WESTERN MASS. – Halloween might look a little bit different this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but there’s no reason the little boils and ghouls of Western Massachusetts can’t have a spook-tacular time.
Many area communities have canceled their municipally-sponsored Halloween events and are advising residents to exercise caution to prevent the spread of the virus while enjoying their costumed door-to-door candy scavenging this year. Some, including Springfield and Longmeadow, have gone so far as to prohibit trick-or-treating this year in the interest of public health.
But there are still plenty of opportunities to have some safe Halloween fun, whether you prefer scary or like to play it safer with something on the silly side.
Hoping to make sure everyone can have a frightfully good time this spooky season, Reminder Publishing has compiled this list of Halloween happenings in your area.
Agawam
• The Halloween Pumpkin Picnic at the School Street Park will take place on Oct. 31. Families are encouraged to wear costumes, bring their own stuffed animals, picnic blankets and snacks. The event, hosted by the Agawam Family and Community Program, will feature sing alongs, dancing and story time. Social distancing will be enforced and masks must be worn. For more information and how to register visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1201363320220862/.
• The Agawam Congregational Church, 745 Main St., will host a Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The socially distanced event will require masks to be worn and feature a contest for the best decorated trunk. While those participating in the contest will not be able to distribute candy, the church will hand out good bags to children. The event will also feature a virtual costume contest and a photo booth. The first-come, first-serve event has a limited amount of spaces and requires those attending to be pre-registered. Those interested in the event can find more information on http://www.agawamcongregationalchurch.com/. Those interested in pre-registering can email their contact information and trunk theme to office@agawamcong.com or call 786-7111.
Chicopee
•The Pioneer Valley Baptist Chapel, 56 Perkins St., will host a Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families are encouraged to attend in costume and bring a bucket or bag to collect candy.
• Love Peace and Kielbasa Grease will host a Trunk or Treat event at the Chicopee Elks, 431 Granby Rd., on Oct. 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will have families stay in their car while treats are brought to each car. Those distributing candy will wear masks and either wear gloves or use proper sanitation. The event is limited to the first 250 participants and is a first-come, first-serve basis.
Easthampton
• Easthampton Media is hosting a Halloween Video Festival in which members of the Easthampton and Southampton communities can record and submit two- to-5 five minute Halloween-themed videos that will be aired on Oct. 30 on Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, and public access channel 191 in Easthampton and Southampton. The submission deadline is Oct. 25. Content should be kid-friendly (no worse than PG-13). For more information, visit https://easthamptonmedia.org/halloween-video-festival/.
• Although the Easthampton Rag Shag Parade is cancelled this year, Easthampton Media has teamed up with the Easthampton Parks & Recreation to invite folks in Easthampton to be a part of a Rag Shag Video. Community members of Easthampton can submit pictures or short video clips of their families/children/pets in costume or their Halloween decorations to be a part of the video. The deadline to submit is Oct. 25 by 11:59 p.m. Email photos or videos to ryan@easthamptonmedia.org; send via Facebook Messenger to Easthampton Media; or upload to http://bit.ly/ragshag2020. Video clips should be less than 30 seconds. The Rag Shag Video will premiere Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. as part of the Halloween Video Festival.
Hampden
• Bethlehem Church, 123 Allen St., will host an Outdoor Pumpkin Party on Oct. 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The free event will be socially distanced and require masks. The event will feature costumes, live music, jack-o-lanterns and a special pumpkin story.
Longmeadow
• Storrs Library and the Longmeadow Adult Center is hosting those interested a chance to see the annual Jack-O-Latern Spectacular at the Rogers William Park Zoo without having to leave their home. The event will take place virtually on Oct. 30 at 12:30 p.m. The historic and annual event will feature more than 5,000 carved jack-o-lanterns lit and displayed in accordance with the historic zoo’s theme. The 30-minute long video will be streamed for 48-hours for all to see, including behind the scenes glimpses at the history and carvers. Those interested in the virtual event can
register online at https://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/xp_newpopevent.cfm?zeeOrg=STORRS&EventID=6548390&sw=1920&fbclid=IwAR3vLJfqHida7Rr-lI0qn7g1iz18kOedyFl9Q7B-1FrvhDIRbs19iceiqh4.
Southampton
• On Oct. 22, Edwards Public Library, 30 East St., is hosting a Halloween event from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Children and families are welcomed to meet under the pavilion to listen to a story, do some arts and crafts, share some treats, and participate in a costume parade. This event will be socially distanced and masks must be worn. Youth Librarian Johanna Rodriguez-Douglass said the treats will be individually wrapped to follow coronavirus protocols. There is a pre-registration to keep the number of families low. Families are welcome to register the same day of the event.
Southwick
• During the week of Oct. 26 to Oct. 31, residents can stop by the Southwick Public Library, 95 Feeding Hills Road, to pick up a free Halloween craft kit to be completed at home. Kits will include everything needed for the crafts except tape and/or glue. Kits will also be available for curbside pickup.
• While the Southwick Public Library’s pumpkin decorating contest for kids began on Oct. 5, there’s still plenty of time to enter. Children can decorate a pumpkin any way they see fit and enter the contest by sending a photo of the decorated pumpkin to pphillips@cwmars.org with the participant's name and contact information. Photos of pumpkins will be posted to the library’s Facebook page, and the winner will receive a prize.
• During the week of Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, Southwick teens will have the opportunity to participate in a pumpkin carving contest. Photos of carved pumpkins can be submitted at any time during the week, and can be submitted via the Google Form that will be posted on the teen blog at http://southwickpubliclibraryteens.blogspot.com. The winner of the contest will receive a $10 iTunes giftcard.
Springfield
• The Epilepsy Foundation of New England (EFNE) will host a Hallow-Hunt-A-Thon scavenger hunt during the week of Oct. 25 to Oct. 31. During that time, participants will be able to register a team to participate in a scavenger hunt that spans through local parts across New England and includes at-home challenges as well. Participants will receive a EFNE face mask. More information can
be found online at https://epilepsynewengland.org/events/2020-10-25/hallo-hunt-a-thon and participants can register their team at https://www.classy.org/event/hallo-hunt-a-thon/e298346.
• The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center will host a Spooky Safari on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The socially distanced event will feature a variety of stations around the zoo including crafts, pumpkins, candy and photos. Additionally, a costume and pumpkin costume will be taking place virtually. Tickets can be bought prior to the event at www.forestparkzoo.org/events-1/spooky-safari.
• On Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the United Way of Pioneer Valley will host a Halloween Boo Bash. The event, hosted in collaboration with Mayor Domenic Sarno’s office and Colebrook Realty Services Inc., will feature a drive through trick or treating event in the TD Bank parking lot at 1441 Main St. Families with children 12-years-old and younger are welcome to attend the free, socially distanced event. Children must be accompanied by an adult and 3,000 bags of treats will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. More information on the event can be found at www.uwpv.org/boo-bash.
• Indian Orchard Citizens Council (IOCC) will host a Trick-or-Treat Meet and Greet on Oct. 31, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Eastfield Mall. Participants are invited to decorate their cars and meet state Rep. Orlando Ramos and state Sen. Adam Gomez. Each car will receive a bag of candy. For more
information, visit the IOCC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/myiocc.
West Springfield
•Mittineague Congregational Church, 1840 Westfield St., will host a drive-through style Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The free event has a rain date of Nov. 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration for the event is required and can be done at https://www.eventbrite.
com/e/trunk-or-treat-mittineague-congregational-church-tickets-121564840711?fbclid=IwAR0DJnWA8S1D8EniAokw75mFbEpEMF40Cd0xV4BBcDVCyUt7ZRQEKm3UuP8.
Westfield
• A Trunk-or-Treat event will be hosted by Pottery Cellar at The Mill at Crane Pond, 77 Mill St., on Oct. 25. from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Masks must be worn and social distancing will be observed.
• All Star Dance Center, 200 Root Road, will host a free Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families are encouraged to come in costume to the free event where social distancing will be observed.
• Westfield On Weekends will host PumpkinFest2020. Through Oct. 31, participants will have the opportunity to drive through a Scarecrow Trail and a Drive-by Haunted Houses. Information about the event, as well as a map of participating houses, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/935226956989156/?event_time_id=935226960322489.
Westhampton
• From Oct. 26 to 31, the Westhampton Public Library, 1 North Rd., will host a Book-or-Treat. Children and families who check out a book during that week will receive a little treat bag. Costumes are not required but they are encouraged when picking up the book and treat bag. Books may be checked out during in-person browsing or for curbside pick-up.
• The Westhampton Public Library is also collecting donations of wrapped candies and treats. If you wish to donate you can email them at westhampton@cwmars.org.
Wilbraham
• The Wilbraham Children’s Museum, 678 Main St., will host a Halloween Costume Parade on Oct. 24 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The walk through event will have several different time slots to ensure proper social distancing. Children will have the opportunity to have a dance party, make a craft and even go pumpkin bowling. Face masks will be required while in attendance, registration is also required. Families can register at https://www.wilbrahamchildrensmuseum.com/halloween-costume-parade.
• Wilbraham United Church, 500 Main St., will host a drive through Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 31. The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will feature nut-free treats, photos and a food drive. The event requires masks to be worn and will be socially distanced. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and bring non-perishable food items to donate.
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