Families enjoy safe trick or treating activities in Lincoln

 

[November 02, 2020] 

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, there were a number of activities starting Saturday morning that provided safe trick or treating for area youngsters.

The day began with the annual Trick or Treat with the Mayor. The format for this event was changed dramatically, but it worked out well.

Dressed as the Cat in the Hat, Acting Mayor Tracy Welch and wife Annette greeted families in Latham Park at the bandstand. Each family received a map of downtown participating businesses. Each child received a sweet treat from the Mayor Welch. Then they were encouraged to go on their way staying in family groups, wearing their face masks and observing social distancing.

The Welchs’ said that the event was off to a good start at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Having started at 10 a.m. Annette noted that they had already handed out 90 treats and there were still more children coming.

The downtown businesses enjoyed the set up as families came in small groups. Each group chose whether to begin their route at Abe’s Carmelcorn on Kickapoo Street or at the Pink Shutter on north McLean. Some families chose to get back into their cars and go to the heart of the city and work their way out.

Most of the time, there was very little congestion, and it was well noted that the majority of the children wore their virus protection masks along with or instead of their Halloween masks.

The business owners were very happy with the way the event had gone, and found they even had a little more time to interact with kids and parents with this revised format.

Trick or treat night ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday evening. Some trick or treaters noted that there were fewer porch lights on this year, which came as no surprise to many.

However, there were other activities in town to make up for it, including a wonderful event at Faith Assembly Church on Nicholson Road in Lincoln.

Faith Assembly has a very large outdoor space next to the church. On Saturday night tables were set up with lots of distance between each one. At the tables, representatives for other churches in town, local businesses, Lincoln College and the YMCA, just to name a few offered all kinds of treats and gifts for children.

The Salvation Army was on hand offering bags of groceries to anyone who asked for one.

There was a marshmallow roasting station with two fire pits and sticks provided. Kids could roast their own, or have a volunteer do it for them.

DeMarchi’s Espresso truck out of Washington was also on hand offering free warm beverages for visitors and their full line of beverages for sale.

Across town, Copper Creek Cottages was offering a drive through trick or treat event. Because of the corona virus, residents were not participating in the event, but staff was set up outside under the drive-thru awning. As cars came through, each child received a bag of treats from staff.

With the safe alternatives, this year the kids in Lincoln surely had the opportunity to enjoy an age-old tradition in a somewhat modified manner. This has been a year of cancellations, so it was good to see one tradition that did not have to bite the dust due to the virus.

[Nila Smith]