by Dennis Dalman
A safe Halloween event for sweet little ghouls and goblins will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 in downtown Rice.
It’s a free fun time, and everyone is welcome.
The event is the day before Halloween because it involves downtown businesses, many of which won’t be open Saturday.
Sponsored by the Rice Chamber of Commerce, “Trick or Treat on Main Street” was a great success last year, its first time, according to its organizer Sarah Wilczek.
During the event, children accompanied by parents will go from business to business to receive treats that range from mini-flashlights (from the Chamber) to glow sticks (fire department) and, of course, candy. As of Oct. 19, 20 businesses had signed up for “Trick or Treat on Main Street.” Each participating business will display a paper cut-out pumpkin in front windows. At each store, there will be a map available for the trick-or-treaters to follow, business to business.
“Last year’s turn-out was awesome,” said Wilczek, a Rice resident who owns and operates a Rice office of American Family Insurance. “I’d seen it done in other cities and decided we should do it in Rice. We put it together with only two weeks notice, and it turned out so great.”
At Wilczek’s insurance office, there will be a Halloween scene complete with straw bales and pumpkins at which parents can take photos of their trick-or-treating children.