Look for this “Trick-or-Treaters Welcome Here” sign in the windows of participating businesses for the annual downtown trick-or-treating on Oct. 24 from 4 to 5 p.m. in Westfield.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — For the 32nd year, the mayor’s office and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield are collaborating on annual downtown trick-or-treating.
An invitation is extended to all downtown merchants to participate in this annual event to host trick-or-treaters at their businesses on Friday, Oct. 24, from 4-5 p.m.
Interested merchants are encouraged to contact Marketing Director Jamie Mahon at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield at 413-562-2301 or via email at jmahon@bgcwestfield.org, and will be provided with a sign — “Trick-or-Treaters Welcome Here” — to attract children in costume with their parents to area businesses on Elm and Main streets, as well as local side streets.
Businesses that have confirmed their participation as of press time include the American Legion Post 124, first time participants Drop, Pack, Ship, Cassin Insurance, Park Square Realty, Westfield Bank branches on Elm and Arnold Streets, Westfield Gas & Electric, CVS Pharmacy, Baystate Dental, KeyBank, Berkshire Bank, Edward Jones Investments, REMAX, Responsible Driving of Westfield and Two Rivers Burritos.
Also participating will be Honey Hair & Beauty, Vivid Hair Salon, Witalisz Realty, Maple Leaf Pub, William Mis Insurance Agency, Alo Saigon, Simon Sez Pets, Dunn & Phillips P.C., Westfield On Weekends, Rocky’s Ace Hardware, Whip City Music, Domino’s, M&T Bank, Dazzlers Salon, En3rgy UP Juices and Dollar Tree, also participating for the first time.
Mahon said it’s not too late for businesses to participate, and the club will bring signs over as late as the morning of Oct. 24. Parents will accompany their children in costume to the downtown businesses with the signs in their windows, where they will receive a treat from each of the merchants.
Mahon said the Boys & Girls Club partners with the Mayor’s office every year on Downtown Trick or Treating. “It’s a great, joint community event, so we’re looking forward to participating again,” she said.
Halloween Party at the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Oct. 31
It’s spooky season at the children’s boo-seum. On Friday, Oct. 31, regular admission is your invitation to our Halloween bash. Come dressed for Halloween and show off your clever costumes. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. enter our laboratory for adventures in STEAM (science, technology, art, and math). Experiment, create, and score some candy.
Amelia Park Children’s Museum is located at 29 S. Broad St. in Westfield and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday. The museum offers hands-on learning for children ages 1-7 in a safe and welcoming environment. Cost of admission is $8 per person. Grandparents and seniors are admitted at a reduced rate of $4. For those who present a valid EBT card, the rate is $2 per person (up to six people). Infants under 1 are admitted free. Questions? Call 413-572-4014 or email fun@ameliaparkmuseum.org. Learn more about the museum at ameliaparkmuseum.org.
Blandford Ghost Walk
The Blandford Historical Society, which describes the town as a small town with a big history rooted in the American Revolution, will host a Ghost Walk across the street at the Old Burying Ground in Blandford on Sat., Oct. 18, from 2-4 p.m.
Halloween at Porter Memorial Library
At Halloween at the Library on Friday, Oct. 31, from 5-6 p.m., kids should show up at the library in costume at 5 p.m. for Spooky Storytime, followed by a costume contest at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., there will be a rag shag parade to Town Hall.
Haunted Strathmore
The Russell Police Association is ready for the fifth annual Haunted Strathmore at Strathmore Park on the evenings of Oct. 24 and 25, bringing the community and public safety together.
Last year Strathmore Park was invaded by ghosts and ghouls to the delight of both children and adults. Over 500 people came out to witness the Haunting of Strathmore Park and to take a hayride of the cursed woods of Strathmore Park.
This year, due to the high turnout last year, will be a two night spooktacular which will be held on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Friday night, Oct. 24, 5 p.m., will feature the Haunted Hayride, which will be geared for older children and adults, said Russell-Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Hennessey. There will be food available for purchase from food vendors and a live band along with a DJ.
Saturday night, Oct. 25, 5 p.m. will feature the Haunted Hay Ride, along with the area’s largest trunk-or-treat. A children’s rag shag parade will start the event, children’s haunted pumpkin patch/cemetery. There will also be holding a jack-o’-lantern contest.
Food will be available for purchase and there will be live music and a DJ. Prizes will be awarded for best costume, best trunker, etc.
The Russell Police Association is looking for volunteers to play characters and to help with the event. If interested, email Officer Cameron Hess at chess@townofrussell.us.
Huntington Bonfire and Trunk or Treat
Join the Huntington Fire Department along with music by Arrow & The Archer at the Huntington Public Library, Oct. 25, 5-8 p.m., for a trunk-or-treat, followed by a bonfire. Food will be served by Crazy Arepas, The Purple Door Kitchen and Garden, The Good Dawg and Chester Boy Scout Troop 120 during this free event.
Sinister Saw Haunted Trail and Rag-Shag Parade
On Oct. 25, all the ghouls come out in Chester for the Sinister Saw Halloween Event where the Hilltown Hikers will light up the trail — in places, the rest of it is dark and scary woods — and crazy clowns, masked chainsaw men and evil witches will haunt this abandoned mill in Chester Factory Village, complete with a sound show, live props and gags.
“Be prepared for a spine tingling jump out-of-your-pants walk through the haunted woods! Join the Hilltown Hikers and our volunteers at our Granite Saw property. We will have a haunted trail complete with a 12-foot diameter cutting saw, real tombstones, haunted gags, bloody ghouls, skin crawling sound show, zombies and more! What is lurking in those woods? Don’t worry, we will make sure you get out … alive,” the Hilltown Hikers warned.
Halloween festivities at Chester Ballfield
The town of Chester invites all ghouls, ghosts, and goblins to gather at the Chester Ballfield on Emery Street for frights and fun for all ages, kicking off with pumpkin painting and face painting for the little ghouls, followed by a rag-shag parade at dark. Attendees will have the opportunity to cheer or compete in an inflatable race at 5:30 p.m. — all ages are welcome to participate — then enjoy a trunk-or-treat, live music, beer tent and a food truck feast while spooky spirits roam the grounds.
There will be costume contests, followed by an award ceremony with trophies and prizes for trunks and costumes. A fire at the snack shack will include s’mores and other sweet treats.
Huntington Council on Aging events
The Huntington Council on Aging will host two On Oct. 29 from 1 to 1:30 p.m. at Stanton Hall, the Huntington Council on Aging will host blood pressure checks by the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition’s nursing team, followed by a showing of the movie “Halloween” at 2 p.m.
