NORTHAMPTON — Main Street in downtown Northampton will once again transform into a vibrant and creative parade of costumes for Downtown Trick or Treat this Halloween.
Taking place Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m., families and residents are invited to downtown Northampton to trick-or-treat with the business community at the heart of the city. Attendees can look for Trick or Treat flyers in storefronts across downtown to identify participating businesses.
This year marks the first time the Northampton Chamber of Commerce will lead the event as the sponsor. Chamber Executive Director Vince Jackson told Reminder Publishing that because Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in the country in terms of consumer spending, the organization looks to capitalize on the opportunity to connect with people downtown.
“It’s rallying downtown businesses and merchants to give families another reason to visit downtown, shop, play, have fun, do all the things that we like to see people doing in downtown Northampton,” Jackson said.
Jackson said attendees can expect an element of surprise with all participating businesses. He added that the connection between community and families also showcases the spirit behind events like this and the importance of small businesses engaging in their community.
“It could be a handful of candy, or it could be a special savings, you just never know what you might get. So, the key is to come hang out, enjoy, go to your favorite places and let your kids and have a good time,” Jackson said. “It’s really introducing them [kids] early on in life about the importance of community coming together and supporting small businesses.”
Events like this throughout the year by the Chamber not only offer community gatherings but also help boost the local economy. Jackson added that through events like the Ice Art Festival, the Taste of Northampton, and the Jazz Festival, the community comes downtown for fun while also engaging with the local businesses that make up Northampton.
“The arts and culture scene, the music scene, the unique shops and great farm-to-fork restaurants, all these are great reasons for people to come downtown, and every time there’s an event or activity, we see a lift economically. We see it in meals tax revenue, we see it in parking revenue, we see it in restaurant increases anecdotally,” Jackson said. “When people turn out, they want to spend more time downtown, and we love that because they’re checking out the shops, visiting our restaurants, and that’s just what Northampton is all about, bringing people out and having fun.”
For more information on this year’s Downtown Trick or Treat, visit northamptonchamber.com.
Also part of this year’s Halloween festivities is the return of the Florence Rag Shag Parade.
The oldest continually running Rag Shag parade in the country once again will see residents gather at Trinity Park for a 6 p.m. step-off. The march will make its way down Main Street and end at the Florence Civic Center.
Florence Civic Association Parade Committee Co-Chair Chris Powers told Reminder Publishing the community has embraced the event since the 1940s.
“Florence was a family-oriented town after World War II, so a lot of the families and kids subsequently settled in town,” Powers said. “[The parade] welcomes all families. We’ve got live music, prizes and treats.”
The Haunted House portion of the festivities returns this year, bigger and better than ever, Powers added. This year’s theme is Nursery Rhymes, and the Haunted House will take place inside the Florence VFW Post 8006.
Powers said he and fellow organizers appreciate the community’s turnout each year for the various holiday celebrations in Florence and are excited to see Main Street filled with costumes and community fun this Halloween.
“It’s just nice to come up there. A lot of parents and grandparents love to just come down and watch the elaborate costumes with kids,” Powers said. “It takes you back to a time where things weren’t so hectic, and there weren’t cell phones in everyone’s hands. It’s just a great day.”
For more information on this year’s Florence Rag Shag Parade, or to help support one of the community’s oldest traditions with a donation or a membership, visit florencemass.com/rag-shag/.
