Children participate in a previous Westfield Downtown Merchant Trick or Treat event. (File photo)
WESTFIELD- Businesses in downtown Westfield are being sought to participate in this year’s Downtown Trick or Treat event on Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. on Elm and Main streets.
The 26th annual Downtown Trick or Treat will feature dozens of local downtown businesses who will display a sign in their window indicating their participation. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield and Mayor Brian P.Sullivan’s office are the main entities promoting the event. Lerryn Godden, the financial director of the Boys and Girls Club, said that they are seeking other businesses to participate as well. Businesses that are interested should reach out to Godden at 413-562-2301.
Some businesses that have committed include Mama Cakes, Park Square Realty, Two Rivers Burritos, and The Westfield News.
Those that do participate will receive a sign stating, “Trick or Treaters are Welcome Here.”
Godden said that the Downtown Trick or Treat event was first started in 1992 when Patti Andra and Susan Figy approached members of the Boys and Girls Club Board with the idea of a city-wide “Fall Festival” of sorts.
What resulted was a weekend-long festival that was kicked off by the Trick or Treating on Friday evening and other activities beginning Saturday morning. Activities in the old festival included jet helicopter rides, pumpkin carving stations, bounce houses, obstacle courses and rock climbing walls.
While the festival does not exist in this capacity anymore, one could argue that Pumpkinfest has become its spiritual successor in recent years. The third annual Pumpkinfest put on by Westfield on Weekends takes place on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Park Square.
Neighborhood Trick or Treating is still expected to take place on Halloween as well.
