NORTH PORT – North Port residents are coming up with alternative ways to celebrate Halloween in a year of COVID.
“This is Halloween, on a full moon, what a better way to do this than celebrate with your community,” said North Port Resident and Organizer of the event, Justin Willis.
For the first time in years, North Port’s “Trick or Treat at City Hall” was canceled.
“It’s obviously something we look forward to, but obviously we’re living in weird times, to say the least, it just didn’t seem like it was something we should be doing this year,” said City of North Port PIO, Josh Taylor.
To remain properly spooky, North Port residents are organizing a Trunk or Treat on Estates Drive, followed by a Haunted Hayride at the American Legion on October 31st.
“There are very few houses between Taneytown and Reisterstown so to be able to park the cars along there and let the kids walk through the grassy area, the parents will drive beside them, we ask that our volunteers wear masks, please wear gloves while you pass out candy, don’t let the kids reach into the bucket put it into the bags for them that way we can limit the amount of contact,” said Willis.
Willis says they are looking for volunteers who can decorate their trunk and help hand out or donate candy
“Hopefully we get a couple of thousand kids that come out here walk through and pick up candy from us, so we want to make sure we have enough,” said Willis.
Olde World Restaurant on 41, North Port Natural Florist in Biscayne Plaza, and The American Legion in North Port Estates are all receiving candy donations.
The event will run from 3 to 6, followed by the Haunted Hayride from 8 to 11.
“This should be great for some young adults and maybe some older ones too,” said Co-organizer, Elaine Allen-Emrich.
The hayride will consist of small groups, which will be great for the scare and social distancing.
“We really worked around COVID to make sure that you’re scared, but not scared of the virus,” said Allen-Emrich.
For more information on Trunk or Treat or the Haunted Hayride, you can contact Justin at justincodywillis@gmail.com or at 941-237-7907.
