Each year on All Hallows’ Eve, the streets in downtown Edmonds are closed and fill with costumed kids of all ages making their way from merchant to merchant to collect sweet treats.
But things will look much different in 2020.
“Because of COVID, the Chamber will not be holding the traditional downtown Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Instead, we are pivoting to an online costume contest to be safe while still bringing together a sense of community during the pandemic,” said Greg Urban of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.
The online costume event will go live on October 1st. There will be several categories including An Edmonds Kind of Hero, Pets, Group/Family Costumes, and Children based on age. Residents then vote for their favorite in each category through October 31st with winners will announced and notified in early November.
The Edmonds Halloween Trick-or-Treat is the latest community event to be canceled by the virus. It could end up canceling our whole Chamber of Commerce, too. And, if that happens, even after the pandemic crisis passes, Edmonds will have no Halloween, 4th of July festivities, Car Show, Tree Lighting, Taste Edmonds or a local organization that works to keep our business community vibrant and uniquely Edmonds.
These events are not paid for by tax dollars, it is the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce that produces and funds our beloved community events (and keeps them free for all) each year.
But now, due to this pandemic, the Chamber’s revenues are way down, and its very existence is in jeopardy. That also puts into jeopardy this exciting calendar of community events – events that are woven into the fun of calling Edmonds “home”. On October 31, 2021 don’t you want to see a downtown full of children, pets, and grownups in costume visiting our merchants to trick-or-treat?
The situation is simple: If our community can raise $100,000 by the end of the year, we can save our Chamber and the wonderful events it produces for our community. If not, we will lose it all.
Participation in the online costume contest is FREE; however, donations to the “An Edmonds Kind of Hero” campaign are highly encouraged so our Chamber can keep its doors open beyond 2020.
The Chamber of Commerce does much more than events. Its fundamental mission is to help our local businesses be coordinated, efficient and healthy. And the popularity of the public events is a fun reminder of how, behind the scenes, the Chamber of Commerce is hard at work in making our community what it has become.
To save our Chamber, for the first time in its history, caring residents of our community are being asked to help out.
Rick Steves said, “I’ve attended Halloween events in Edmonds for decades. It’s about the only thing in my life that I’ve done 30 years in a row. I love it…it celebrates our community…it’s for all…and it’s free. In fact, nearly 10,000 people each year enjoy Halloween in Edmonds for free. By becoming An Edmonds Kind of Hero, I’ll now attend this and all the other events knowing I’m doing my share to make it possible. That’s $25 very well spent.”
Join in the fun of the online costume contest and partner with the hundreds of residents who have already become An Edmonds Kind of Hero by making a donation. Together we can be sure our business community will have the help of the Chamber to weather this COVID storm and recover stronger than ever.
Visit www.EdmondsHalloween.com to register for the online costume contest and be sure to support your Edmonds Chamber at www.SupportEdmonds.com to ensure the events that make our city so special return in 2021!