Little Goblins Welcome—

Sandy Hook Halloween Walk Set For Saturday

By John Voket

Members of Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) are scaring up some new and not so frightful ideas to bring families and especially young children down to the local commercial district to help celebrate Halloween a little ahead of time.

But merchants and attendees will also play a role in fighting hunger in the community, as well as boosting a new Halloween tradition on Main Street where thousands are expected to gather for trick or treating on October 31.

Many Sandy Hook merchants are promoting the second annual Halloween Walk, which is set for 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, October 27, in Sandy Hook Center. Gary Seri of Stone River Grille and Sharon Doherty of PJ’s Laundromat are helping organize the district-wide event which provides a chance for “little goblins” — very young children — to get their costumes on and be out and about during the daytime.

Any Sandy Hook businesses displaying a bright orange pumpkin cutout will be participating, and will welcome trick or treaters with candy or related activities. Stone River Grille is hosting a DJ, face painting, and jack-o-lantern decorating activities.

Once the event is over, all the decorated pumpkins will be donated to The Second Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge on Main Street — along with a generous donation to the cause.

The “challenge” is an invention of Mackenzie Page, who is asking anyone with a Jack O’ Lantern to display it on Halloween night for a $5 donation that will help her friend and cancer survivor Zoe McMorran with costs related to her treatments after being diagnosed with brain cancer. In its second year, this year’s proceeds will be split between Zoe’s family (to help cover the continuing cost of medical bills) and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the nonprofit organization for seriously ill children founded by Paul Newman.

Also on Saturday, the Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue Ladies Auxiliary will be staffing a food collection station where they will be taking nonperishable donations for Faith Food Pantry.

“We’re expecting several hundred costumed children and their families,” Mr Seri told The Newtown Bee as he was busily preparing for the weekend. “This is really a great opportunity with parents, especially if they have very young children, to show off their costumes instead of just being limited to Halloween night.”

Mr Seri and Ms Doherty recalled last year’s event, which was dampened somewhat as the beginnings of a rogue October snowstorm began hitting the region.

“It was snowing like crazy, but we still had about 50 people making the best of it,” Mr Seri recalled.

“And a lot of merchants participated, even though it was snowing,” Ms Doherty added. “We made the best of it.”