The COVID pandemic is still altering Halloween plans, but local entities are adjusting to make sure some activities take place.
Clarksdale Public Utilities has once again decided to forego it massive candy give-away and Coahoma County Youth Opportunity will host a limited Trunk-or-Treat on Halloween Sunday, Oct. 31.
Clarksdale Public Utilities’ events are all internal throughout the week including a pumpkin decorating contest for employees Thursday.
CPU board members will judge the contest and determine the winners.
“It’s something that people here at the administration building kind of wanted to have some things where they could come together and kind of build some teamwork over some ideas,” said CPU general manager Curtis Boschert. “One of them was the Breast Cancer Awareness where they’re wearing pink. One’s for domestic abuse awareness where they wear purple. We’re working on some pumpkin decorating contest.”
CPU board member George Miller said there were more Halloween activities in the past.
“Every year, we used to have trick-or-treating out here,” Miller said.
Boschert hopes to get back to that point.
“We still aren’t comfortable right now doing that,” Boschert said. “So, hopefully, by next year, we can. Because we helped organize the downtown trick-or-treat.
“This is just internal. The people here kind of wanted to do teamwork and teambuilding.”
CCYO
Coahoma County Youth Outreach (CCYO) is having its eighth annual trunk or treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Expo Center parking lot.
It will be a “drive-through” due to the COVID pandemic and participants will be able to set up from 4 to 5 p.m.
Any child will be able to participate and receive treats.
“There are no requirements,” said CCYO enrichment director Kendric Travis. “We’re going to have a couple of organizations come and give out treats and we’re going to give as much as we can to the participants that come through.”
It was also a drive-through in 2020 because of the pandemic, but in previous years, activities were inside the Expo Center.
“Last year, it was very successful,” Travis said.
Travis said there were a lot of participants.
He specifically said fraternities and sororities, the Clarksdale Fire Department, Pafford EMS and other volunteers have participated. He added the trunk or treat would be a safe environment with everything going on in the city.
“We’ll have everything marked off,” Travis said. “They’ll come through our parking lot.”
Travis does not know how the trunk or treat will work in 2022.
“Dealing with this COVID, we’ll never know,” Travis said. “We’ll play it by ear. Hopefully, we’ll be back inside, but we’ll continue to do what we’re doing.”
