Businesses plan to celebrate Halloween

By Catherine Brown, Photo & Business Editor

        In past years, Vashon’s Halloween has consisted of a couple of hours at night where the roads uptown were closed. Kids ran around trick-or-treating, and adults danced to live music. This year, the roads will be open, and the holiday will extend into the weekend.
        “We can’t have [Halloween] in its traditional sense this year. We’ve had to make the decision to not close the road this year because it would potentially encourage gathering,” Chamber of Commerce board member Mellisa Schafer said.
        Even with the open roads, there will be Halloween activities taking place throughout the day.
        “It's just really going to be dependent on businesses themselves to determine what they would like to do and how they would like to participate,” Schafer said. “Of course they would… have to follow CDC state and local guidelines for what would be safe for COVID-19 protocols.”
        The Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Vashon Be Prepared and the Emergency Operations Center to come up with messaging for businesses and locals.
        “How I imagine things are probably going to look this year is that because the chamber won’t be shutting down the streets, I think a lot of businesses will probably be doing something probably just within the course of their normal business hours,” Schafer said.
        Due to COVID-19 and its guidelines, the chamber is not allowed to provide businesses with the Halloween help they usually do.
        “The chamber is in a slightly tricky position because we cannot promote and or encourage events and activities to take place. But we can provide the information to those who want to do something… to do it in a safe way,” Schafer said.
        While businesses want to have fun with Halloween, they also want to remain as COVID-19-safe as possible.
        “There are guidelines the chamber is communicating to businesses on how to hand out treats safely. Not using a communal trick-or-treat bowl, making sure things are individually wrapped… I think there's a way to do this safely for those who feel comfortable participating.” Schafer said.
        Although some businesses may not be participating this year, here are a few safe bets:
Minglement will still be doing their pumpkin carving.
        Vashon Baking Company will be handing out treats on Halloween.
        Langley Farm Gardens is having their pumpkin patch farm from September through late October, or until they are out of pumpkins.
        Camp Burton is offering a haunted drive-thru on Halloween from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
        Island Queen has reservable outside dining tables for Halloween all day. Reservations are made by calling 206-463-7777.
        The Chamber of Commerce is offering a virtual costume contest as well as a pumpkin carving contest. Those who would like to participate can submit their photos on the chamber’s website to be entered into one of five costume categories and or the pumpkin carving contest. The winners will be judged by our unofficial mayors from Vashon Sisterhood, Raena, Selene, Maarten, and Lucca. Winners are rewarded with a gift basket.