Halloween is back.
Some neighbourhoods reported near-normal numbers of costumed kids canvassing for candy on Sunday night, after Covid severely restrained trick-or-treat activities last year.
“The kids are so excited, and they’re having a great time,” said one parent who was out in Cold Lake with two toddlers. “Halloween is a big deal for kids, and it was hard on them last year to have to miss out on it.”
There is an increasing number of colourful store-bought costumes on display as kids choose to dress up as favourite characters from comic books, cartoons, and movies.
But you’ll still see a lot of the more traditional ghosts, monsters, skeletons, and witches coming to the door, many in homemade costumes.
Many of the goodies shelled out at the door are the same as in years past. Mini-chocolate bars are always popular, as are wrapped candies. But apples and homemade treats have long ago become a thing of the past due to safety concerns.
But if there’s one thing that doesn’t change, it’s kids’ enthusiasm for Halloween. For the mom from Cold Lake, it was a morale boost for everyone to be able to get out this year.
“The kids have been troopers through the pandemic, but they need to have fun,” she said. “It’s good for us adults too—having happy kids makes things easier on everyone.”
