As the spooky season arrives, the Greenbrier Valley is planning for tailgates, tokens, tricks, and treats.
In Ronceverte, trick or treating is set for Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. However, more Halloween festivities hosted by several organizations were also discussed during a recent City Council meeting.
“At Ronceverte Baptist Church we’re going to be holding a large trunk or treat event this year [for a Fall Festival],” said Pastor Christopher Wayne Alonso. “We want a petition to close down Locust Street from Main down to Edgar, just for the safety of the kids. We’re going to have games on one side, bounce houses on one side, and the trick or treating itself. … We’re starting at 3 p.m. and we’re planning on going to 8 p.m. … It’s open to the entire community.”
Immediately after, another event was discussed.
“The Ronceverte River Festival was going to request a very short parade on Edgar Avenue,” explained organizer Mark Mengel. “It would be strictly kids on foot. We would like to start the parade at 4 p.m., and we would request the street be closed for the duration of the parade, we don’t really need it any longer than that. … Possibly, [we] might want to have a firetruck bring up the rear, but we were going to get permission before we did anything. Ideally, what we would have is Edgar Avenue closed from the bank down to the produce market for about 15 minutes. We’d march kids from out of the depo down Edgar Avenue and out of the other end of the public parking lots. They would trunk or treat from … whenever they got there to 6 p.m.”
Mengel also noted the River Festival didn’t want to interfere in the Ronceverte Baptist Church event.
“I’m not sure this is going to work then if they’re coming in before we are with a bigger event,” Mengel said. “We were looking to do something for Halloween as well, but it coincides with what they’re doing and I don’t want to step on your toes. … We were looking to do a trunk or treat in the parking lot as well, so we’d end up spreading people out all over the place.”
“Do you not realize how many children come to Ronceverte for trick or treat?” asked Councilmember Kathy King. “I have over 400 come to my house every year.”
“I would go to both,” noted Councilmember Leah Smith.
Last, Friends of Ronceverte is looking to hold their second annual “Street Scare,” with plans for a scavenger hunt.
“[Friends of Ronceverte wants] to get traffic flow into our businesses,” Hazelwood said. “We’re going to ask them to decorate. Each business is going to get a coin and it’s going to be like a scavenger hunt for the children. They go to each business, get a coin, and bring it back for an extra surprise or treat. … Our event would probably be around 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The majority of us are just going to be in front of my shop on that street, handing out candy, dancing, waving. We’re not going to be mobile, but we want children going around.”
The 2020 Friends of Ronceverte Street Scare. Photo courtesy of Friends Of Ronceverte. |
Mayor Deena Pack suggested a meeting be held before the council or the city approved specifics for any of the three events.
“I love that everyone is so interested in putting on these activities for our kids,” said Pack. “It might make sense for the church, the river festival, and Friends of Ronceverte to get together and create something within that time frame for everyone to hit all the spots but do it in a way that nobody is feeling left out or their event might not get foot traffic.”
As of Friday, Oct. 6, the meeting has not yet been held, but is expected soon.
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