Peterborough Blogs
‘Halloween in the BOOro’ Spooktacular Returns to Downtown Peterborough
/Downtown Peterborough is going to get spooky this month as the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) hosts their second annual ‘Halloween in the BOOro’ event many family-friendly activities.
Shop windows will have eerie displays beginning Friday.
This year’s window contest will challenge shop owners to embrace the haunting ambience of a dark forest.
Locals are invited to join in the festive spirit leading up to Halloween by voting online for their favourite dark forest-themed window display from 25 different businesses.
Voters can tour the downtown using the online Halloween window map. The DBIA will be providing cash prizes for the top three Halloween windows as a reward for the most creative shop owners.
First place: $300
Runner up: $200
Third place: $100
The main Halloween in the BOOro event is on Oct. 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a variety of free family-friendly activities including trick or treating, late-night shopping and interactive Halloween scavenger hunt.
Shoppers are encouraged to dress up as their favourite character and go from door to door for a trick-or-treating extravaganza with over 40 locations scattered throughout the downtown core. To help families navigate their downtown Halloween adventures, a trick-or-treating map can be found online.
“You could tell everyone was having such a fun night out, both parents and kids,” said Holly Butler, Iceman Video Games manager. “It reminded me of when you see a trick-or-treating scene in a movie and there are kids just everywhere in costume.”
Trick-or-treaters will encounter a cast of characters ‘haunting’ the crosswalks. In keeping with the dark forest theme, families can expect to find witches, fairies and other woodland characters along George Street and a cast of water-based characters from mermaids to pirates haunting the intersections along Water Street according to a press release.
“Halloween in the BOOro is another example of the DBIA utilizing the magic of experiential entertainment to draw families back into our downtown core,” said Hillary Flood, DBIA Vibrancy manager. “My team has put so much effort into this. The level of interactive programming and Halloween curation is going to be top tier.”
Trick-or-treaters are also invited to join in a Halloween quest where locals can try their luck at completing a self-guided Halloween hunt anytime between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 28. The Halloween hunt will feature 13 ghostly stops along the way and a small prize at the end for those who complete the scavenger experience (while supplies last). Participants can join the scavenger hunt with or without a mobile device.
For folks wanting a more interactive digital experience, the scavenger hunt can be played on your mobile device by downloading Goose Chase a mobile scavenger hunt app. Once in the app, search “BOOro Halloween Hunt” or search game code GJR376 to join in on the hunt. Scavengers can get a head start on the hunt by going to the Boro mural located at Sherbrooke and George Street to unlock the first clue.
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City of Peterborough Shares Environmentally-Friendly Ways of Pumpkin Disposal
/The City of Peterborough has encouraged residents to dispose of their pumpkins in an environmentally friendly way and provided ways to do so.
They can be placed at the curb with regular green waste until Nov. 25 and must weigh less than 22 kg. The City is asking that pumpkins not be placed in the garbage. The green waste is composted that diverts organic material from the landfill, creating enriched soil used for City plantings.
They can be put in backyard composters and chopped up to speed up decomposition.
Remove non-compostable material such as decorations, candles and leftover wax.
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Five Counties Shares Tips For A More Inclusive Halloween For All Kids
/With Halloween around the corner, Peterborough-area residents are being asked to help break down barriers to trick-or-treating by following the Tricks to Make Halloween a Treat for Kids of All Ages and Abilities from Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC).
They are urging the community to consider the following when taking part in Halloween festivities:
Set up a trick-or-treating station that is accessible and barrier-free for every child to enjoy. For homes with stairs, consider setting up an accessible treat station on the front lawn, driveway or garage. If all else fails, be creative and use your vehicle’s trunk to hand out candy.
Clear the path for trick-or-treaters. Remove potential obstacles and ensure the way to your treat station is wide open and well lit, especially for trick-or-treaters with mobility challenges. Consider parking on the street or in the garage to create even more space.
Decorate for Halloween with care. While scary and spooky decorations are appealing, they can be frightening for some trick-or-treaters. Bright flashing lights and loud or frightening noises can cause problems for children with sensory processing issues, autism or epilepsy. Be thoughtful and tactful in how you decorate so more children can take part in trick-or-treating.
Communication counts. Some children may say “trick or treat” differently. Some may use sign language, assistive technology, speak slowly or be non-verbal. Be respectful whatever the circumstances. A smile and wave can say so much!
Seeing blue? That’s OK. Blue pumpkins have been informally adopted by some families as a way to indicate children have unique ways of behaving and communicating. If you see a trick-or-treater carrying a blue pumpkin, be understanding and adjust your interactions as needed.
Use some “show and tell” to hand out treats. If you encounter children with visual or hearing problems, describe or hold up the treat before placing it in the bag so they are aware of what they are receiving.
A sign of the times. If you want to make an even stronger statement, put up a sign on your front lawn indicating you are an accessible/inclusive trick-or-treating stop.