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Date: 10/11/2022
CHICOPEE – Halloween festivities will take center stage at Chicopee’s annual Spooktacular on Oct. 26.
The celebration will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Szot Park with a potential rain date set for Oct. 27.
Mayor John Vieau expressed that the holiday gathering is one of Chicopee’s marquee events of the year.
Families and kids are welcomed to journey across the Szot Park walking path, with a multitude of vendors and local community organizations distributing candy for trick or treat participants. Vieau shared that the gathering provides a fun alternative to the traditional Halloween format.
“We’re excited about providing a safe alternative to traditional Halloween,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Along with an ample array of candy, the Spooktacular also offerings a slew of different activities. Executive Assistant of the Mayor’s Office Janet Olbrych said the event will include a DJ, local dance companies, a pumpkin decorating contest and a haunted bus tour provided by KingGray.
Several different community organizations will also be present at the Spooktacular. The Chicopee Public Library will be present with their mobile library, while ChicopeeTV crafts spooky videos compiled via green screen for interested attendees to take part in.
Chicopee’s farm-to-table school program ChicopeeFRESH will be serving hot dogs and donuts for attendees. The City Council will be taking part in their annual tradition of helping to distribute food to the public. Members of the Police and Fire departments will also be present to connect with residents.
Olbrych and Community and Constituent Liaison Chloe Soto have been working to secure local vendors for the event. While the free event prohibits the sale of items, the Spooktacular provides organizations a chance to connect with the community in a meaningful way, according to Vieau. Additionally, the celebration secured sponsorships from local organizations like Florence Bank, Westfield Bank and Peoples Bank.
Vieau praised Olbrych for being an invaluable asset during the Spooktacular’s planning stages.
“She knows this office better than anyone … she’s very experienced and good at what she does,” said Vieau.
Looking ahead to the Spooktacular, the mayor aspires for the event to continue building upon its fun traditions.
“We’re going to have a whole bunch of fun,” said Vieau.
Readers and interested business vendors can learn more about the Spooktacular at http://chicopeema.gov/939/Spooktacular.