PITTSTON — Halloween will come early this year as the city gears up for its second Trick or Treat on Main Street event.
The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21.
City Events Coordinator Sarah Donahue, who organizes the event along with Pittston residents Kerri Walsh and Greg Holl, said the event is being held early so it doesn’t interfere with the Pittston Area vs. Wyoming Area football game Friday, Oct. 28.
After the success of last year’s Trick or Treat on Main Street, Donahue knew it needed to become an annual thing.
“Last year went better than expected,” she said. “I was completely blown away by how much fun people had and how much the businesses reciprocated the enthusiasm.”
Donahue said there won’t be many changes to this year’ event. Participants can go into businesses with signs on their door that indicates they are open to trick-or-treaters.
“We just honestly thought it went so well and it was such a great night that we decided that we didn’t really want to change anything or do anything different,” she said.
A costume parade will be held for area children wanting to dress up at 6 p.m. that will go around the Lower Tomato Festival Lot and the Newrose Building and a costume contest will be held at 6:30 p.m.
A police officer will be on duty to help families cross the street.
In the Lower Tomato Festival Lot there will be a bounce house and a DJ. Brace’s Orchard will sell its products and give out samples.
Members of the Pittston Area Art Club will paint faces from 5 to 8 p.m., and TJ Belt will be on hand from 6 to 8 p.m. to make balloon art for children as well.
Tractor rides will be conducted by Cremard Bros., of Duryea, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. along the same path as the costume parade.
In the Pocket Park, there will be a zombie dance party organized by Lino Terzie, owner of The Music Scene.
Members of the Pittston Area Key Club will volunteer for the night helping at the bounce house and the tractor ride. They will also judge the costume contest.
Something new this year will be author, illustrator and cartoonist Angie DeMuro reading two of her popular children’s books, “The Boy Who Loved Halloween” and “Kat Sinclaire in the Dragon Spell,” at 7 p.m. in the Boden Open Space.
Immediately following the story time, DeMuro will sign copies of her books, which will also be available for purchase at the event.
With city events all year round, Donahue said they came up with Trick or Treat on Main Street to fill in the gap between Paint Pittston Pink and Christmas in Pittston.
“We’re looking to fill gaps of all the events in the city, very slowly,” she said. “We have Christmas, we have Halloween, we have the St. Patrick’s Parade and we have the Second Friday Art Walks. We’re just trying to entertain the children with different important holidays. We like to give the children of Greater Pittston things to do.”
Donahue said she will don her Snow White costume that she wore last year and looks forward to seeing everyone else get in the spirit of Halloween.
“Hopefully we’ll see the same amount of people or even more come out and enjoy the downtown,” she said. “I love seeing their costumes and what’s created for the year. I really like to see the creativity in costumes, especially the homemade ones.”
