Ghost Walk cancellation may bring trick or treating back to Douglas
For almost half a century, Halloween trick or treating has been rare in Douglas. For 48 of those years, children instead dressed up, played games and bagged treats at the Ghost Walk, a community party at the Mount Jumbo Gym hosted by the Douglas Lions and supported by Douglas firefighters and community donations.
The Lions, however, bowed out this year, announcing the event's cancellation last week without giving details. Parents and community groups are trying to figure out what to do Halloween evening.
"We have not undertaken to organize anything," said Mala Reges of the Douglas Advisory Board, a city-appointed committee. "The Lions have not networked with us about that. It's too bad."
"If we'd heard earlier that the Ghost Walk was being canceled, we might have done something," said Kathleen Lyden, administrative assistant at Gastineau Elementary School in Douglas.
Traditional trick or treating resumed on Fifth Street in Douglas about three years ago, and is slowly growing and spreading to other streets, said Lyden.
"The kids are told to go only to homes that have their porch lights on," she said.
Lupita Alvarez, executive director of the Juneau Montessori School in Douglas, said she was surprised by the cancellation.
"Children in this area have always looked forward to the Ghost Walk," she said. "It was really fun for the kids."
"Poor little guys were really looking forward to it," said Liz White of Douglas, whose children are 4 and 2.
White chauffeured her kids to the costume contest at Nugget Mall on Saturday, but she's feeling at loose ends about how to entertain them on Wednesday especially after assuming Ghost Walk would come around as usual, and "talking it up" to them.
"The Jumbo Gym (Ghost Walk) was always bright and fun," White said. "You don't want to take little ones to haunted houses. There isn't much to do in Douglas, and driving out to the Valley always seems like driving to Michigan."
Carol Race, supervisor of the Douglas Public Library, also was taken by surprise by the cancellation.
"We don't have anything planned," Race said. "I guess there will be a lot more kids out trick or treating and it's usually so wet!"
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Ann Chandonnet can be reached at achandonnet@juneauempire.com