Annual Halloween Walk set to return Oct. 29, with precautions

The Lincoln School's annual Halloween Walk is set to proceed this year on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Pre-K through 6th grade students will dress in costumes and walk through the town, trick-or-treating at local businesses. As with previous years, preschool-aged children are invited to attend the walk as long as they are accompanied by an adult, Lincoln School secretary Danielle Barnett said in an email interview.

Despite some changes necessary due to COVID-19, the school hopes the event will look much as it has in the past.

"This year has been full of firsts, most of which have led to disappointing the kids by canceling time honored traditions or having to reinvent those traditions so that they barely resemble what the kids are used to. We are conscious of that and are grateful for the instances when things are as close to normal as they can safely be, under the circumstances," Barnett said.

One of the changes this year includes the cancellation of the Parade of Costumes, which traditionally took place in the school gym.

"Parents, grandparents, and friends are welcome to watch the students as they exit the east doors of the building, and take pictures, as long as they practice social distancing," wrote Barnett.

Sixth graders will lead the walk beginning at 2 p.m., and all other grades will follow at five minute intervals to provide for social distancing. Barnett said the school plans to follow mask and social distancing requirements throughout the walk.

"To further safety precautions, we are asking the businesses to follow protocols that include meeting the trick-or-treaters outside, designating one person to pass out the candy to the kids so they are not all reaching into the same bowl of treats, and making sure that whoever interacts with the kids is wearing a mask," added Barnett.

"We have been lucky that most of the usual businesses are planning to participate as they normally would," Barnett said.

Another change this year is the cancellation of the PTSO's annual Halloween Carnival. However, some PTSO members, led by Emilee Rivera, have organized their first Trunk-or-Treat, which is slated to be held in the school parking lot from 4-6 p.m. on Halloween.

"The goal is to ensure that our kids still get as much of a normal Halloween experience as possible. Many people aren't doing traditional Halloween, both trick or treaters and the people who hand out candy, due to COVID. So it would be nice to give them a safe space that is following social distancing so they can still trick or treat. Our goal is to also fill the void that is created from us not being able to put on the carnival this year," said Rivera.

Kids will be sent through in small groups to allow for social distancing, and people handing out treats will be asked to wear masks and use either gloves or hand sanitizer, said Rivera. As with the Halloween Walk, people will be asked to hand out treats instead of allowing kids to reach in.

People interested in participating in the Trunk-or-Treat can reach out to Rivera. "We need as many people to come as they can, to show support for our kiddos, and we need the community and the kids to know this is happening so they come and show support, making it a success for all. If you can't have a trunk but would like to provide something to the cause you can always donate candy or other small items that someone else could hand out," she said.