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To ease parents' safety concerns that often surround the costume- and candy-filled day, Glenn Barnhard and the members of Fairfield’s Kiwanis club, have decided to bring back a fall tradition that was canceled or postponed in each of the last three years.
“Trick-or-Treat on Safety Street,” an event formally hosted by the Fairfield’s Chamber of Commerce, will return downtown with more attractions than ever before, Barnhard said.
“It’s a great opportunity for parents to get out with their kids in the daylight and go trick-or-treating, and enjoy the event,” Barnhard, presidential adviser of the Kiwanis of Fairfield, told The Daily Voice.
Traditionally, “Trick-or-Treat on Safety Street” provides families the opportunity to celebrate Halloween in downtown Fairfield. Each merchant participating in the event will have an orange sign on their storefront advertising their participation. Children can trick-or-treat at these establishments.
“Merchants downtown were calling about it after it was lost last year because of weather,” Barnhard said. “We have 90 [percent] to 95 percent participation from merchants this year.”
Although the event is set up to provide a safe place for kids to trick-or-treat, the Kiwanis club kept parents in mind as well, and have added to the Fairfield tradition.
Star 99.9’s street team will be on the Sherman Green giving handouts and playing music, nonprofits will have information tables available for parents and the Kiwanis club will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs for participants.
“This is such a great town-wide event,” Barnhard said. “When we were given the opportunity to take it over, we wanted to make sure it was something that could gain nationwide recognition.”
Although the Kiwanis club does many fundraisers throughout the year for its organization, which focuses on youth interests, “Trick-or-Treat on Safety Street” is being hosted as a “town service.” To help, Kiwanis affiliated Key Clubs from Fairfield high school’s will participate by passing out candy to trick-or-treaters for the downtown merchants.
“Some merchants can’t always afford to hand out candy themselves during the business day,” Barnhard said. “Key Club members will be there to help them out.”
Trick-or-Treat on Safety Street is a free of charge event that will be hosted on Halloween day, Friday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 5 p.m.
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