WELLINGTON, Fla. — Some trick-or-treaters got a head start before Halloween and helped local businesses at the same time.
The Halloween Crawl was held Saturday in Wellington. Businesses and other nearby towns opened their doors to trick-or-treaters.
Adriana and Zoe Norkin, recently who moved to the area, were among them.
“There was a whole bunch of candy and I also saw my friends there,” said Adriana Norkin. “They gave us a whole entire bag full of candy.”
“We got like hundreds. It was overflowing with my basket. I tried to put it in but then it fell over,” said Zoe Norkin.
The crawl was started last year due to Covid. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends trick-or-treating outside in small groups and avoiding crowded indoor Halloween parties. Organizers of the Halloween Crawl said this is a creative way to keep kids safe from COVID-19.
“Last year it was kind of a mixed crow. People were a little bit afraid to come out,” said Aimee Stern, community organizer. “This year I think a lot of people are elated to be able to come out dress up.”
“She’s been having a lot of fun and mingling around with all her little friends and stuff. It’s nice to be around in this environment,” said parent Katie Chirinos.
Some of the businesses offered grab-and-go individual treat bags. This allows for distancing, eliminates bunching at the door and reduces the amount of time spent at the candy table.
"It’s been great to see all the kids coming in their costumes. It's been awesome to see everybody and finally put a smile on everybody's face," Kelly Perez of Smallcakes of Royal Palm Beach. "We did something different instead of candy. We did cupcakes. Everybody's loved it so far."
“A lot of the businesses due to covid were shut down. So this is a great way for local businesses to also get recognition,” said Stern.
One parent expressed gratitude that with Covid still looming over the holidays their kids were able to enjoy dressing up, hit the streets and have a frightfully good time.
“He loves it. He loves going by. It's really nice for the community to put out there for the kids. Some of them aren’t able to do it like an actual halloween. So, I think this is a good way to give back,” said Nicole Bullard, a parent.