ESTEVAN — The Estevan Leisure Centre was buzzing with excitement on Oct. 26, as hundreds of local families gathered for Spooktacular Treats for All, a Halloween-themed event organized by the City of Estevan. With the support of 13 participating businesses and organizations, the event aimed to offer an accessible and inclusive Halloween experience for children of all ages.
According to Jacquelyn Massey-Rounds, marketing and communications manager for the City of Estevan, this year's event saw a noticeable increase in participation.
"We have more [people] this year. We're up to 13 this year participating in terms of vendors, businesses and community organizations, which is up from our eight last year," she said.
The city made adjustments to accommodate the growing interest, reorganizing the space to fit more participants, with hopes of expanding further next year.
The event provided a safe environment for trick-or-treating, catering to children who may face challenges during traditional door-to-door Halloween activities.
"Not every child has the ability to safely trick-or-treat during Halloween. We wanted to be able to roll out an event that was accessible for all," said Massey-Rounds.
She emphasized the importance of inclusivity, noting that the setup was designed without obstacles like stairs, and it avoided sensory triggers such as strobe lights and loud music, making it friendly for children with various needs.
The community's response was overwhelmingly positive.
"With over 300 children through our doors, this year's second Spooktacular Treats for All was a success," the city said in a post after the event.
The Spooktacular Treats for All event was part of a larger effort by the city to create engaging, family-friendly activities during the fall. Alongside this event, other activities at the Estevan Leisure Centre that day included an Access Communications' free swim, the library's book sale, a hockey tournament, and more, offering something for everyone.
Reflecting on the event's success, she added, "Each year it seems to get bigger and bigger. We're happy to provide something for trick-or-treaters with mobility issues or just a fear of trick-or-treating as well."
Last year, over 200 children participated, and this year's turnout indicates the event's growing popularity within the community.
Next on the city's Halloween offering list is the Eerie Affinity: A Night of Fright haunted house slated for Oct. 31 at Affinity Place. Younger children will go through at 6:30 p.m., and older youths get their turn at 7:30 p.m. Admission will be a non-perishable donation to the Estevan Salvation Army's food bank.
"We wanted to give something to the teen range that don't really know what to do if they're past the age where they don't want to trick-or-treat, but they still want to do something for Halloween. Our Eerie Affinity gives them something to be able to come to and still enjoy Halloween and be in the spirit," Massey-Rounds said.
