By Ann McCreary
At the request of a Burgar Street resident, the street in Twisp will be closed to traffic on Halloween to protect the hordes of trick-or-treaters who flock there every Oct. 31.
Phyllis Daniels moved to Burgar Street four years ago, and has been amazed each year by the numbers of trick-or-treaters running up and down the street. She was also concerned about their safety.
“I was shocked that people were driving these giant trucks down the street with all these little kids. I was worried about those tires that were bigger than the kids,” Daniels said.
So this year she requested and received approval from the Twisp Town Council to close Burgar Street to traffic on Halloween night. The street will be closed from 5-10 p.m.
Twisp public works officials will set up sandwich board barricades at each end of the street, which will allow emergency vehicles easy access if necessary.
Parents bringing their children to trick-or-treat on Burgar Street will be able to park in the parking lot next to the Quilting Hive building at the corner of Burgar Street and Highway 20, Daniels said. She said the owners have given permission for people to use their lot while their children are trick-or-treating.
Burgar Street residents are accustomed to throngs of treat-seekers on Halloween night. “We had 300 pieces of candy last year and we had to get more,” Daniels said.
“I think we get most of the kids in the valley and their parents,” she said. “It’s a great beautiful parade full of fun stuff.”
Halloween events
In addition to the Burgar Street extravaganza, ghouls, superheroes, princesses and vampires can find other places to fill up their bags, and adults can glam it up in their campy costumes.
• The Methow Valley Teen Center hosts a Halloween Carnival on Saturday (Oct. 26) from 1-5 p.m. at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. The free event will feature games and booths for children and adults, including a cake walk, soccer goal kick, face-painting, apple toss and bowling. For more information email mvalleyteencenter@gmail.com.
• Community Covenant Church in Twisp hosts its fourth annual Trunk-or-Treat, which drew more than 100 trick-or-treaters last year. The free event kicks off from 5-6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, with treats, games and rides at the church, 710 N. Highway 20. Next is a free dinner and fall carnival at Cascade Bible Church, 1119 S. Highway 20 in Twisp, from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 997-0595.
• Methow Valley United Methodist Church hosts Trunk-or-Treat on Riverside Avenue in Winthrop from 5-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. For more information, call 997-9292.
• Twisp River Pub will host a Halloween party and costume contest on Nov. 1 beginning at 9 p.m., with entertainment provided by Shakedonia and Noah Ashford. There is no cover charge. For more information, call 997-6822.
• A Halloween costume party and dance to benefit Methow Valley Theater will be held at the Methow Valley Community Center gym in Twisp on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. The dance party will feature D.J. Special K, and Kelly Donoghue will MC the event. There will be a full bar, games, a fortune teller, a cake walk, lip sync and surprise performances, plus a silent auction. Cost is $10. For more information, call 997-2926.
