Downtown trick-or-treating on Halloween has been a long-standing tradition celebrated throughout the Manhattan community. Gone are the days of simple door to door trick-or-treating around your neighborhood. Downtown Manhattan, Inc. hosts a couple different Halloween festivities to get families in the spooky spirit.
Gina Scroggs, executive director of Downtown Manhattan, Inc. said All Treats Day has been a trick-or-treating tradition in Manhattan for many years that has become even more popular as a result of the new developments around town.
“All Treats Day will be held in downtown Manhattan from 4 to 6 p.m. where families can go walk around to different stores and get treats,” Scroggs said.
Unlike last year’s event, friends and families will be able to gain the full All Treats Day experience, void of the clutter of construction cones and yellow tape everywhere.
“This year we finished up construction of the Poyntz Avenue Improvement project, so it will be the first time in a while that friends are able to come out and see all of the new renovations and decorations without all the construction going on,” Scroggs said.
Scroggs said the event initially started out with about 100 kids showing up but the attendance in recent years has been around 700 to 900 kids coming out to participate.
If participants donate cash or canned goods they also have a chance to get their photo taken for free by J&C; Imaging. All donations will go to the Manhattan Emergency Shelter.
Scroggs said participants can hit the shops and restaurants from 4 to 6 p.m. before heading into Manhattan Town Center Mall’s Boo Party.
“Boo Party is our annual indoor trick-or-treating event held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. And what happens is a large line forms at the inner perimeter of the mall and you can go door to door to the stores and go trick-or-treating,” Jocelyn Guilfoyle, Manhattan Town Center Mall Marketing Manager, said.
Guilfoyle said Downtown’s All Treats Day event and their Boo Party gives families several different trick-or-treating experiences. The Boo Party event is for children ages 12 and under and will also feature a free coloring station in the center court.
In addition to these events, the Manhattan Department of Parks and Recreation will also be holding a trick-or-treat event on Halloween night.
“Basically, all we do here is —this is one of the locations where kids can come by and get treats and candy,” said David Baker, Douglass director.
Baker said there will be Halloween decorations set up in the center and a table with treats for kids to enjoy.
“We’re just a safe location for kids to come and get treats from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” Baker said.
Baker says they’ve held this event at the same location for over twenty years and there is no age limit.
