Halloween amid pandemic a challenge
Local parks and recreation departments are seeking to keep fall fun in a COVID-19 world, and families eager to offer kids normalcy are snapping up Halloween programming.
Macomb Township Parks and Recreation has planned a Spooktacular Stroll Through the Park set for Oct. 16. The program allows children to Trick-or-Treat at stations and concludes with a look-only haunted area.
“We typically hold our annual Halloween Hoopla indoors – but with all of the COVID-19 restrictions – it wasn’t possible this year. The Spooktacular Stroll will not be the same scope as our Hoopla, but nevertheless, it will be loads of fun and a safe way to celebrate the season,” Macomb Township Parks and Recreation Program Leader Michelle Duda said.
The event will be held at Macomb Corners Park, located on 25 Mile Road, east of Luchtman Road, in Macomb Township. Admission fee is $5 per Macomb Township resident and $10 per non-resident. Registration is required for the event, and was available online at register.macomb-mi.gov/ with a household account. Registrations were also open during business hours at the front desk of the Macomb Township Parks and Recreation building, located at 20699 Macomb St. Registration opened on Sept. 14 for residents and was scheduled to open Monday for non-residents, however tickets were sold out for the event as of noon on Sept. 14.
“We are shocked that we basically sold out of available tickets by noon today after opening sales this morning,” Duda said on
Sept. 14. “This really shows how parents are trying to normalize their kids lives and enjoy the Halloween holiday – despite the ongoing uncertainties. It is our utmost goal to provide a safe and memorable experience for our attending guests.”
Macomb Township Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore DiCaro said the township is following the current executive orders for gathering numbers, which if altered, could potentially allow for the possibility of more space in the program. He added that the parks and recreation department has a waiting list for those who hope to attend.
The Spooktacular Stroll Through the Park is scheduled to be broken into two sessions, with session one being held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and session two from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Duda said that this allows the parks and recreation department to control how many people are at the event.
Participants are advised to bring flashlights for the one-way, socially-distanced 40 minute stroll. Adults are advised to keep one station between families, and stations will be 12 feet apart. Costumes are permitted and treat bags will be distributed to kids. Strollers are permitted but pets, smoking and alcohol are not permitted.
“We always try to use the resources we have – so it made sense to use our park. Many walk throughs and different plans were considered, as there are many factors involved,” Duda said.
Registrations are checked as participants enter the parking lot, and the park will be closed to the general public. Plans for the event are subject to change when and if changes occur in state mandates. The event will also be held weather permitting.
“As the state is experiencing so many changes, we will communicate through email to all who have registered and our website and new Facebook page will be updated as well,” Duda said, adding that participants are credited with household credits if the event must be cancelled for any reason.
Chesterfield Township Leisure Services will host a
Trunks, Tricks and Treats event on Oct. 17. It will include five entry times from noon to 4 p.m. on each hour. The event will include a Trick-or-Treat trail held on the grounds of the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices, located at 47275 Sugarbush Road in Chesterfield Township. Registration is currently open but limited.
“Children will find this Halloween event to be a perfect and safe place to show off their costumes. Trick-or-Treating bags, a sweet treat, a small pumpkin, and plenty of candy will be provided for each child,” Chesterfield Township Leisure Services Director Amanda Bowers said. “The event also includes photo opportunities, and a robotic team demonstration with handlers dressed in costume, display, and demonstrations fashioned for Halloween.”
Bowers said that families can perform the required registration for children ages 2-10 online at parks. chesterfieldtwp.org. Cost is $7 per resident or $9 for non-resident for participating children. Social distancing is required at the event, and the number of adults permitted to accompany children is limited. Hand sanitizer and masks are encouraged. Treat stations are set about every 12 to 24 feet, and trunks are assigned to a lane with one empty parking spot between each vehicle.
“Businesses can participate by being onsite as a trail sponsor. Trail sponsors set up along the route and bring their own candy to pass out to participants,” Bowers said, adding interested businesses can contact 586-949-0400 ext. 4 by Oct. 1 and that the sponsorship fee is $250.
The trunk portion of the event is part of the traditional treat trail, and individuals or families can decorate a vehicle trunk to hand out candy to participants. Those interested in participating with a vehicle can contact 586-9490400 ext. 4 to register and obtain participation details until Oct. 10.
Information and updates on the event can be found at parks. chester field twp. org or by contacting 586949-0400 ext. 4.
City of Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation scheduled a Sterling Frights Halloween event for Oct. 24. It’s free but limited to residents only, with registration open Sept. 21. In the past, the event has been held at Dodge Park, located at 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights. City of Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Langlois said that a plan had been prepared differing from past years, due to COVID-19 related restrictions. He said that in a typical year, Sterling Frights draws between 6,500 and 7,000 participants. This year’s event relied on the state moving into Phase Five of the governor’s reopening plan, as 200 people each in three sessions were planned according to Langlois.
“Due to state guidelines, we will only be running this program if we reach Phase Five of the governor’s reopening plan,” Langlois said on Sept. 14. “If we do not achieve phase five by the end of the week, we will be cancelling the event and shifting our focus to hopefully running our Christmas themed event in December.”
Residents can stay up to date on the status of the event at myshpr.net or at facebook.com/shparksandrec/.