There won't be trick-or-treating like in years past, but the Grande Prairie Downtown Association will be putting on an altered version of the annual festival (Photo: Grande Prairie Downtown Association / Facebook)

By Shane Clausing

Halloween Downtown

Grande Prairie Downtown Association unveils plans for annual Halloween festivities

Oct 8, 2020 | 2:42 PM

The Grande Prairie Downtown Association is not letting COVID-19 stifle their desire to put on their annual Halloween Walking Parade.

The event, in previous years, would take place mostly indoors and would feature a costume contest, as well a trick-or-treat walk through downtown where kids would go to various members of the Downtown Association to collect some candy.

However, because of COVID-19, the festivities will have to look a little different this time around.

“It will be unlike any other Halloween event that we’ve ever had,” explained Wendy Bosch, the Executive Director of the Downtown Association. “This one is completely social distanced and in mind for public safety. That is paramount to us at the Downtown Association.”

This year’s event will take place outside at the Helen A. Rice Plaza on the east side of Revolution Place. It will also be expanded to three days this year from October 29-31.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

While things will look different this year, Bosch tells EverythingGP that they will do their best to make things look as normal as possible.

“We have the Cavalcade Theatre group painting four different Halloween scenes, so we’ll have four different vignettes set up. We’ll have music, some rovers, entertainment, there will be a couple food trucks there this year, (and) we’ll do the best that we can so these kids don’t feel they’ve been forgotten by us. We want these kids to know that we are thinking about them.”

Bosch also mentioned that families are encouraged to take Halloween family pictures in front of one of the four vignettes that are set up and upload the pictures to Facebook. Once on Facebook, families can enter the Downtown Association’s contest and could win various prizes, as well as candy.

Unfortunately, the Downtown Association says it will not be allowed to handout candy this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. More details on how the photo contest will work will be released closer to the event.

The hours for the three day event are as followed:

• October 29 – 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• October 30 – 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• October 31 – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Bosch says she’s happy that despite the current conditions, they are able to do something for Halloween.

“Our Downtown businesses are delighted that we can carry on this special custom and welcome everyone to celebrate Halloween with us under this adjusted format.”