Community trick or treating will return to downtown Ellijay’s Harrison Park the Saturday before Halloween.
Trick or treaters can visit the park at 75 McCutchen Street from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The rain date is the next day, Sunday Oct. 30.
“We’ll open the gate at 1 p.m. and all our vendors will be set up by then,” said Linda Lancaster, of Friends of Harrison Park.
Previously done by merchants in downtown Ellijay, the downtown trick or treat was first held at the park in 2020. That provided ample space for attendees to branch out during the COVID pandemic, Lancaster noted. About 2,000 attended that first year, she said.
“That totally blew us away (the first year). Last year, we had about twice that many. Other than having to wait in line a little while, it really went very well,” Lancaster added. “Ellijay Life is really taking the lead on Halloween (at the park) this year. We work really closely with (them).”
The Friends of Harrison Park are gearing up to host two other fall events at the park, which will also be open to the public, Lancaster noted.
The park’s Scarecrow Invasion officially began Monday, Oct. 10, and the Harrison Park Chili Challenge will be held Saturday, Nov. 12.
“We moved the date for the Chili Challenge this year. It was going to be on Oct. 1, but everybody is so busy then and it’s (right before) the Apple Festival. By Nov. 12, everybody will have had a week or two to have rested up.”
The park’s Moonlight Walk will provide an opportunity for kids and adults to see the scarecrow displays by nightfall Friday, Oct. 14, from 6-8:30 p.m.
Ballot boxes are up at the park, and people can vote for their favorite scarecrows once a day till Oct. 31, Lancaster said.
“We’ll choose the top three, and we usually have a couple of honorable mentions depending on how close the voting is. Appalachian Supply has won the last two years, so they’re the one to beat,” Lancaster said.
Chili challenge entrants still have time to sign up for the cookoff, said Lancaster.
“It’s our second biggest fundraiser (behind) Dining With Fireflies,” she added.