Durango businesses once again are coming together to host kid-friendly Halloween events.
More than 80 downtown retailers and restaurants will participate in Children’s Halloween from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday.
“It’s all geared toward the little kids,” said Robert Stapleton, owner of Southwest Sound, who coordinates the event. “There’s plenty enough for adults to do all the time.”
It will be the fourth year Children’s Halloween will be held downtown. Stapleton modeled the event after a similar one in his former hometown of Franklin, Mass.
“All the merchants sit on their stoops and pass out candy,” he said.
Durango stores will be passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, and some shops will pass out coupons to adults. The event is intended for children 10 and younger accompanied by an adult.
The events put on by businesses are positioned as safe alternatives to neighborhood trick-or-treating, although there’s little evidence door-to-door trick-or-treating is particularly dangerous. Merchants said it’s also a way for local businesses to give back to the community.
Durango Mall also will host a Halloween event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The mall will hold costume contests by age group and face painting, and local magician Mysto the Magi will perform.
“It’s mainly for the community and to provide a safe environment for the kids,” said Esther Ryser, the mall’s office manager.
Jack Llewellyn, executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce, said he recommends families head downtown first and then go to the mall after the sun goes down and temperatures cool.
La Plata Electric Association is hosting a small, public Halloween event for the first time. The utility, located at 45 Stewart St. in Bodo Industrial Park, will have games and candy from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday.
Local businesspeople said Halloween isn’t especially great for the bottom line, but it pays to take part in community events.
“It’s more just the merchants coming together to give back,” Llewellyn said.
Many downtown shops are decorating with spiders, skeletons and other Halloween themes.
“We have candy dishes, we have spiders, we have signs about Halloween,” said Sharon Taylor, owner of Tippy Canoe, 925 Main Ave. “We enjoy the fun it brings to our customers,”
Beads & Beyond, 840 Main Ave., has gained a reputation as a shop not to be missed on Halloween. Staff members dress up in costumes, and the front window gets a full Halloween makeover.
“We do like to do it up for Halloween,” manager Rebekah Sabia said.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
