As mayor I get to work on really weighty, tough topics -- but also fun things, too. We're five months away from Halloween, but as a parent I have a proposal that I hope you'll support. Last year, October 31st fell on a Sunday, which just didn’t seem like a great night for trick or treating. This year, it's on a Monday night. Also not great! I personally love when Halloween falls on a Saturday evening, and it turns out that as Mayor I get to decide what night trick-or-treating will occur, and at what time. So much power! And I want to use it as wisely as possible.
My proposal is to create a new tradition in Cedar Falls -- an annual "Halloweek" with fun and creative activities that occur on predictable nights of the week. This is something we could eally look forward to as a community every year. Part of this proposal is to incorporate the Saturday evening "Beggar’s Night" concept that’s been successful in the Des Moines metro area and elsewhere for many years. Also, with Beggar's Night on a Saturday evening, then we could advance the trick-or-treat time a half-hour to 5:30pm-7:30pm for a little more safety on the streets for trick-or-treaters. A Saturday Beggar's Night would also save parents the rush and stress of trying to get kids fed, costumed, and out the door on a weeknight, right after work (which the Greens have a decade of experience with!).
Big picture, here’s what I’m thinking:
SUNDAY:
- Halloween decorative arts and crafts at the Hearst Center and/or Cedar Falls Public Library?
- Creative prep for Beggar’s Night.
MONDAY:
- To be determined!
TUESDAY:
- To be determined!
WEDNESDAY:
- Church Trunk-or-Treats?
THURSDAY:
- Downtown trick-or-treat? (3-5pm?) -- would need to be decided by determined by Community Main Street
FRIDAY:
- Decorated House competition judging and visitation (5:30 to 7:30pm?)
- Restaurant, Bar, and home costume parties (night)
SATURDAY:
- Cedar Falls Halloweek Costume Contest & announce winner of Decorated House Contest (late morning)
- Beggar’s Night -- Trick or Treating in the neighborhoods (5:30 to 7:30pm?)
- Restaurant, Bar, and home costume parties (night)
This would just be a rough idea -- organizations like UNI or the WCF Symphony Orchestra could also host activities during this week as well. This is very much a grassroots effort to see what we can come up with as a community, and to see what the City can to do support community spirit and engagement.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, and to get a better sense for pros/cons. E-mail me at mayor@cedarfalls.com with your thoughts. Thanks for considering this idea, which still is very much in the consideration phase. Let me know what you think!