It’s official: There will be no costumed kids and adults making their way from merchant to merchant to collect sweet treats in downtown Edmonds. The Chamber of Commerce has canceled its traditional Edmonds Halloween celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But go ahead and get your costumes ready: According to Chamber President and CEO Greg Urban, the chamber “is pivoting to an online costume contest to be safe while still bringing together a sense of community during the pandemic.”
The online costume event will go live on Oct. 1 with several categories, including An Edmonds Kind of Hero, Pets, Group/Family Costumes, and Children based on age. Residents will vote for their favorite in each category through Oct. 31, with winners will announced and notified in early November.
The Edmonds Halloween Trick-or-Treat is the latest community event to be canceled because of the coronavirus, and it’s a good time to remind the community of ways to support the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors not only Halloween, but the city’s 4th of July festivities, car show, tree lighting and Taste Edmonds events. These events — free to the community — are not paid for by tax dollars, but are produced and funded by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.
Through its An Edmonds Kind of Hero campaign, the chamber is working to raise $100,000 by the end of the year to support future events. Participation in the online costume contest is free; however, donations to the An Edmonds Kind of Hero campaign are encouraged.
“I’ve attended Halloween events in Edmonds for decades,” said Edmonds-based European travel expert Rick Steves. “It’s about the only thing in my life that I’ve done 30 years in a row. I love it…it celebrates our community…it’s for all…and it’s free. In fact, nearly 10,000 people each year enjoy Halloween in Edmonds for free. By becoming An Edmonds Kind of Hero, I’ll now attend this and all the other events knowing I’m doing my share to make it possible. That’s $25 very well spent.”
You can visit EdmondsHalloween.com to register for the online costume contest and www.SupportEdmonds.com to support the chamber.
Just another cancellation that makes no sense. You close the streets every weekend to encourage people to come to downtown and now cancel Halloween along with the car show??? Could we please have some common sense.
The “city” manages and closes the streets on the weekends, not the Chamber.
That’s a “cop out” , the city could help manage and close the streets safely so there was Halloween trick or treating which would also aid local merchants. Maybe BLM could sponsor it, then the Mayor would be all for it.
Please see Darrol Hoang’s comment below, as it’s accurate.
To add, not only is it a Chamber event, not the City – it is also massive. The crowds on Halloween are shoulder to shoulder, much like the 4th (also Chamber). Literally impossible to social distance. I applaud the Chamber on their ability to throw successful events, and also knowing when something is unsafe and making a wise decision. I’d encourage everyone who’s saddened and disappointed to consider bolstering the Chamber with a donation so they can resume when it’s safe.
Well said Heather. It is sad that we are not able to have a safe Edmonds Halloween event this year, but we certainly should not lose sight of the fact that we might not be able to have an event next year as well if we are not able to support the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.
I would really like to see more fundraising events to support the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce so that we can be able to have our great events next year. I was a big fan of the Keep Edmonds Strong Tee shirt drive, and I really appreciate MEN, Alwayz Advertising, and Hamilton Printing for holding that event.
New Edmonds shopping bags, a round it up campaign from local businesses, online auctions, Zoom parties with donations… there has to be a lot of ways to help the Chamber of Commerce, and make sure that an Edmonds Halloween event next year is something that everyone can participate in and enjoy.
It makes perfect sense. The VOLUNTEERS do not feel safe being in a crowd of thousands of people.
This event would not meet the guidelines for social distancing. I think the Chamber had to get the necessary permits and security services and all the rest for the events to talk place. They city did not have the same requirements for weekends if I understand the permit issues correctly.
Alicia, Thanks for spelling one of you names correctly. With 10,000 folks, assuming the average group to be 3 and with social distancing that would make a line about 3 plus miles long. That may even be hard to do in Civic Park in a twisting line.
It was the auto correct, Darrol. My bad.
Unfortunate, but definitely anticipated. It was a blast last year, and I will absolutely look forward to it next year (assuming enough people step up to support the Chamber to allow that to happen).
Wise decision by the Chamber. Personally our household will not be accepting trick or treaters this year. We are both in the vulnerable category for CV 19. Disappointing to be sure be we feel it is necessary to protect ourselves against the illness and also the children that would be coming to our door.
I have had the privilege over the past few years of getting to know the small Chamber of Commerce staff, and they are wonderful people. Because of challenges related to the pandemic the Chamber’s very existence is being threatened right now, and yet I have no doubt that nobody is more disappointed in seeing the Halloween street party cancelled than them. Kudos to them for trying to at least have an online event that we can all take part in.
This is our Chamber of Commerce and this is our community, and if people really want to help support this event (and others like it) happening next year, then maybe take a few minutes and go to their fundraising site (the link is in the article) and throw them a few dollars. They surely need the help.