EWU cancels fall trick-or-treat festival

CHENEY – Eastern Washington University’s Fall Festival for kids is going to be taking a one-year hiatus – hopefully.

University officials have canceled this year’s event that invites area youth to come to and tour specific buildings on the Cheney campus in Halloween costume, during which staff members also in costume greet them as they walk by and pass out candy. The festival usually attracts several hundred children and their parents, but due to COVID19 restrictions on gathering sizes and sanitary requirements, traditional event activities were not possible.

After departing in groups from the Pence Union building on the campus tour — which includes historic buildings such as Showalter, Sutton and Hargreaves halls — the children return for games, activities and additional treats at the PUB and Science Building. Fall Festival organizer Dr. Brian Davenport, associate dean for honors and community engagement, said they tried to come up with some alternate plans for the event, but couldn’t arrive at any that still met state and local health recommendations as well as university policy regarding the virus.

Davenport said EWU is looking ahead to next year for the festival’s return.

Several events have taken place to get people into the Halloween mood. The latest happens Friday, Oct. 16, with Cheney Parks & Recreation’s “Festival of Ghosts” at Sutton Park.

Beginning at 6 p.m., members of the Spokane Storytelling League will share haunting tales best suited for those ages 10 and up. Cider will be served at this free event, and you are encourage to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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