By Mary Alice Russell
The global pandemic is not stopping the Rockbridge area from celebrating Halloween in some unique and safe ways. Here is a list of some of the events this weekend:
On Friday:
- Downton Businesses in Buena Vista can hand out candy if they want from four to six p.m.
On Saturday:
- The Downtown Lexington Trick or Treat, an all-day event. Businesses with an orange sign in their window are participating. All of the streets will remain open.
- Chessie Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Marathon Relay, from 8 a.m. to 12p.m. Runners in their Halloween costumes could win a prize, and runners who win their races will receive $25. Call (540)261-4306 for more information
- Trick-or-Treat on Fuller Street, a candy drive through event hosted by the Lexington Police Department. The department will be handing out pre-packaged goodie bags from 3-5 p.m. There will be signs posted in front of city hall that explain how the drive-thru will work.
- Trunk-or-Treat at Maury River Middle School, an outdoor trick-or-treating event sponsored by AmeriCare Plus Lexington and Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office. Families can come from 4-7 p.m.
- Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat at Glen Maury Park starting at 5 p.m. If you are willing to help give out candy, call (540) 261-7321.
- Jackson Avenue will be closed from 5-8 for a traditional trick-or-treating experience.
- The volunteer rescue squad in Goshen will be hosting a haunted house at 9835 Maury River Road from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $1.
On Both Friday and Saturday:
- Hull’s Drive-In’s 8th Annual Hull-O-Ween Bash! The gates will open at Hull’s at 5:30 on Friday and Saturday. The event includes fun things like announcing the winners of Hull’s virtual costume contest, a trunk decorating contest (judging will start at 6:15 p.m.), a goodie bag for each car, and two movies “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Hocus Pocus.” Go to this website to order your tickets.
More information on these events can be found on the Lexington website.
The city of Lexington recommends that residents follow all of the Center of Disease Control or CDC guidelines, which can be found on the CDC’s website.
Lexington police will have bicycle officers out in neighborhoods, at the schools, and downtown to make sure that everyone can have a safe Halloween.
“You’ll definitely see more of us out, but that’s not necessarily because we think something is going to happen,” Lt. Michael Frost, the interim head police chief, said.
- Zach England and Grace Mamon contributed to this story