ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — There will be a dual purpose to wearing a mask this year on Halloween, as parents, children and event organizers plan for thrills throughout the spooky season during a pandemic.
One event that has been successful in past years is the City of St. John’s Pumpkin Walk, Coun. Jamie Korab said. Due to restrictions put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been replaced with a virtual pumpkin carving contest.
Those who wish to participate are being asked to submit photos of themselves with their uncarved pumpkin as well as the finished pumpkin alone, by Wednesday. Photos should be emailed to [email protected], including a home address — which will not be shared — and must indicate whether the person consents to having their photo used on the city’s social media.
“We were thinking kids might not be able to go out and trick or treat, so it would be nice if they had somewhere they could walk around and wear their costumes.”
The prize is one of two “Zombie Grams,” delivered to your door by Neighbourhood Dance Works. The winners will be selected at random.
Korab said the Pumpkin Walk provided an opportunity for the city to compost.
“A pumpkin is about 90 per cent water, so it’s quite easily compostable,” Korab said. “We’re telling people on November 1st from noon to five, they can drop their pumpkins down on The Boulevard on the gravel parking lot. We have bins set up there and there will be some random prize draws for people that attend.”
Pumpkins can also be placed in a brown bag and put out on the curb on recycling day.
Trunk or Treat
The Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s is inviting their members down to the Buckmasters Circle location for a “trunk or treat” event at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Easter Seals NL is hosting a similar event in its parking lot on Halloween, and cars are asked to arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. Participants are asked to register by contacting [email protected]. The event will run from 2-6 p.m., and participants are encouraged to dress up themselves, and their trunks, to hand out treats.
Cowan Heights United Church is asking people to come by the church parking lot starting at 5:45 p.m. on Halloween for their “trunk or treat,” at 141 Frecker Dr. in St. John’s. Anyone hoping to hand out treats from their trunk is welcome as well.
A special Halloween family service is taking place before the trunk or treat, and people can register at www.cowanheightsunited.ca.
Halloween hunt
At the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre in Conception Bay South, a Halloween Hunt will take place for kids on Wednesday and Thursday.
“We were thinking kids might not be able to go out and trick or treat, so it would be nice if they had somewhere they could walk around and wear their costumes,” science interpreter Madison Acker said.
For $5, kids will walk around the trails and meet creatures in the woods, who will ask them to complete a task. Once the task is completed, they get a punch on their punch card which goes toward getting marshmallows over the campfire at the end.
The hunt takes about 20 minutes. To register, visit manuelsriver.ca.
