FLINT, Michigan -- Like all other aspects of life, the COVID-19 pandemic made significant changes to Halloween traditions in 2020. But community leaders, businesses, and residents all over the city of Flint joined forces and got creative to make sure kids could still safely wear costumes and trick-or-treat at places all over the city.
Jason Trice and Carlos Conner of Bedrock Apparel downtown Flint even organized what they hope becomes a yearly event -- Bedrock Halloween. Bedrock, Capitol Theatre, Shops on Saginaw, the Ferris Wheel, Cork on Saginaw, Brush Alley Skate Shop, Article One, The Space, The Eberson, and more teamed up to offer a block full of stops for kids to get candy and treats and hear from a live DJ.
“I knew the people I enlisted to help would wear masks and wear gloves and do it the right, safe way,” Trice said. “It went great and it’s really important that we were able to do this for the kids.”
More than 1,000 people came out to the event.
“We figured we’d get a turnout, but honestly not like this,” Conner said. “It’s a beautiful thing. A lot of these people haven’t been downtown in years, so to give people the opportunity to walk around here and see the new Flint, it’s perfect."
Comma Bookstore and Social Hub hosted an evening event downtown with music, candy, and activities for kids. Berston Fieldhouse, the Latinx Technology Center, Flint Development Center, and Bethel United Methodist Church all hosted drive-through style trick-or-treating events.
At the Berston event, Anne-Marie Blaney, a professional runner who did a personal fundraiser in September to purchase basketballs for Flint kids, teamed up with the Flint Police Department to pass them out to people in line.
Neighborhood organizations also organized events -- the Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association encouraged kids to dress up for a costume parade and had a candy hunt. The Broome Empowerment Village hosted a trunk-or-treat event, with costumes and car-decorating contests.
See the photo gallery above for a glimpse at some of the Halloween scenes from around Flint.
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