The calendar may say that Halloween is next Friday, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to go trick-or-treating. At least not in downtown Concord.
That’s because Intown Concord’s annual Halloween Howl festivities are taking place this Friday, a week before the big day. So you know what that means – more candy for everyone.
“We figured why not double the candy and double the fun,” said Intown Concord’s operations manager Liza Poinier.
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the cars on North Main Street will be replaced with thousands of people all having some good old Halloween fun. Many businesses will be staying open late to offer free candy to superheroes, dinosaurs and princesses – as well as anyone who might have decided to recreate Insider Man for their costume.
“I give the merchants a lot of credit, because it’s not easy to invite thousands of families into their stores,” Poinier said.
The candy, though, is just the beginning of the fun – but is probably the tastiest part of the night.
“Most businesses are buying between 1,000-2,000 pieces and are running out,” Poinier said.
It’s not everyday you get to take a good stroll down the middle of Main Street and not have to dodge traffic, and that will be the case on this night unless there are a few Lightning McQueens or Maters roaming around.
“People just enjoy being able to walk up and down Main Street,” said Intown Concord’s communications and events coordinator Susan Sokul.
During the same trick-or-treating hours, there will be horse-drawn carriage rides loading at the corner of Park and North Main streets, and, thanks to Granite State Candy Shoppe, this year the rides are free of charge.
“It’s going to be first come, first serve so people should be strategic when it comes to the rides,” Poinier said.
As always, WJYY’s DJ Nazzy and Mya will be rocking the dance party on City Plaza and leading the annual costume parade down Main Street at 6 p.m. So make sure to get a good spot because it might just lead to a picture in an upcoming Insider. That is if we can stop eating candy for a few minutes in order pick up our cameras to do our jobs. Sorry, no guarantees.
“It’s lots of fun for the little ones,” Poinier said.
The Concord Co-op is hosting a carved pumpkin contest, and just so happened to line up its judging (beginning at 5:30 p.m.) with Halloween Howl.
And new this year is the illuminated milk jug ghosts that will be displayed all over the area. You can even participate if you save a milk jug and draw a ghost on it.
“It will be a nice new decorative feature,” Poinier said. “And we’d love to have people make their own.”
But drop it off by noon on Friday to be sure it gets put out.
“We’ll supply the glow sticks,” Poinier added. “And we encourage people to take them home at the end of the night.”
The YMCA is also getting in the Halloween spirit by putting on their annual Haunted House on Warren Street, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., as part of Fun Family Friday.
Pat and the Hats will be rocking Bicentennial Square at 7 p.m., while Red River Theatres is showing a pair of spooky classics in Nosferatu with live music at 7 p.m. and Rocky Horror Picture Show at 9:30 p.m.
“There’s lots of reasons to stay downtown for the evening,” Sokul said.
And FYI, North Main Street, from Centre Street to Pleasant, will be closed to vehicles from 4 to 8:30 p.m., but those looking for candy should wait until the festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Parking is available at the Capitol Commons, Firehouse Block and Durgin Block garages.
We also heard that many businesses on South Main Street will also be staying open late. The word on the street is that there might be some candy down there, as well.
For up to date information and how to create a milk jug ghost, visit intownconcord.org or facebook.com/pages/Intown-Concord.
