Athabasca’s Multiplex field house will be filled with goblins, ghosts and ghouls next Monday as the Athabasca Lions Club puts on its annual Merchants Halloween party on Oct. 31.
“The safe Halloween party for kids,” will feature over a dozen games such as soccer, beanbag tosses and carnival fishing. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., kids can dress up in their costumes and participate in the events for a chance to get some candy, cotton candy and hotdogs.
“I think it’s a really safe place where they can have a lot of fun,” said Debbi Hammond, one of the co-ordinators of the event. “They don’t have to worry about cars or dogs or other things that they might encounter when they’re going door to door.”
Lions Club treasurer David Maguire says the annual event brought in roughly 400 to 500 kids of all ages last year.
“It’s just to have some fun, try some games and collect some candies,” he said. “Of course, that’s what Halloween is all about – funny faces and candy.”
Hammond and Maguire said although the Lions Club helps put together the Halloween party, it’s the many businesses throughout Athabasca who make the event possible. He added that there are “at least 50 or more different business” that will donate candy or money for the bash.
“We try to make this a community event,” he said. “The merchants are a big part of it with donations of various candies and things like that.”
Maguire and Hammond noted that the Lions are still looking for volunteers to help up with the event, whether it’s setting up the field house, running one of the games or clean up.
“Were always hoping that people will volunteer,” Hammond said. “We know it can kind of be a little challenging, because the event is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and often people are working. But we welcome anybody that want to become involved.”
