Every year, Uptown Lakewood’s Trick or Treat takes place, stretching from Madison Avenue to Hilliard Road. The event is held for young kids to trick-or-treat before Halloween, providing a safe and manageable night to participate in the Halloween tradition. Children, accompanied by their parents, fill the sidewalks wearing creative costumes such as witches, superheroes, and ghosts to collect candy from local businesses. Organized by the Uptown Lakewood Business Alliance (ULBA), the annual event offers families a safe, pre-Halloween night of candy and fun in the neighbourhood.
“We do it for our community. We really, really like Halloween, and we want to have safe trick-or-treating,” said Carol Barrett, owner of Carol Lynn’s Salon Plus and a member of the ULBA. Hosting the event before Halloween also allows children to trick-or-treat if they cannot on Oct. 31. This is a fun way to engage and bring the community together.
The ULBA, a group of businesses running from Warren Road to Hilliard Road, works to organize community events for everyone in Lakewood. Every year, they plan a date and organize which businesses will participate by giving out candy to trick-or-treaters.
“It’s an opportunity to see people give out business cards, help your community, and bring your friends around. So we really just give them a flyer, give them the information, and then their heart leads them to go buy candy and do it,” said Barrett. The event was planned with the Lakewood community in mind. The flyer included a rain date in case weather conditions cancelled the first event on Oct. 21. These considerations are important to the community as they show that the event planners truly care about the participating businesses and attending families.
This year, Uptown Trick or Treat took place on Oct. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The night began with children and parents in elaborate Halloween costumes, flooding the sidewalks to collect candy from as many businesses as they could. Most businesses on Madison Avenue, including Barrio, Mars Bar and Cafe, Dance Lakewood, Elmwood Home Bakery, Buckeye Beer Engine and many more, participated in the event.
For the participating businesses, it’s a chance to connect with the community and promote their shops. “It’s great for all the small businesses, like just the promotion that they get to do. It’s a great community event,” said Alessio Matera, a Lakewood High School student attending Uptown Lakewood’s Trick or Treat. Participating businesses decorated their shops with Halloween blow-ups, smoke fogger machines, and loads of plastic skeletons. The shop owners went above and beyond, making sure to buy enough candy for all the children trick-or-treating.
The businesses and people who attend this event are what make it truly special. It’s not just about the trick-or-treaters but also the parents who dress up with their kids and take the time out of their day to attend. “Everybody’s costumes, everybody shows up. They look so cute, it’s so much fun to see,” said Stephanie Howard, owner of Dance Lakewood.
Having town events that include kids is important for the Lakewood community. “You guys will come and pay our bills and get your hair cut and buy Barrio, and well, we want to do something back,” said Barrett. Events like Uptown Trick or Treat create a tight-knit community. Residents get to know the people who run the shops in town for who they really are, and that is truly special.
This year’s turnout was impressive, with hundreds of families walking from Madison Avenue to Hilliard Road. The mix of decorations, friendly shop owners and enthusiastic children created a lively atmosphere that showcased the Lakewood spirit. The event ran smoothly thanks to the careful planning and dedication of the ULBA and local businesses.
Uptown Lakewood’s Trick or Treat is a night celebration of community spirit and candy. It gives children the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of Halloween, allows families to connect with neighbours, and supports small businesses. These events are what make Lakewood’s community special.
