SMITHSBURG, Md. – Smithsburg will move its annual trick-or-treat night from Halloween to Friday, Oct. 30, this year to avoid a conflict with the Alsatia Mummers Parade in Hagerstown.
Resident David Weiland asked the mayor and Town Council Tuesday to make the one-day change because the parade falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Smithsburg students are expected to participate.
“If your child is in the band, you’re certainly going to go to the Mummers Parade to see your child,” Weiland said.
Council members noted that Smithsburg had previously settled on holding trick-or-treat on Oct. 31 after attempts to avoid competing events created other scheduling conflicts.
“But again, it’s not etched in stone. It’s not one of the Ten Commandments,” Mayor Donnie Souders said.
Council unanimously approved moving trick-or-treat to Oct. 30 for this year. The town’s separate trunk-or-treat event is scheduled for Oct. 17.
Lions Park gets $121,000 for new equipment
In other business, Smithsburg has received $121,000 in Program Open Space funding to replace the large playground structure at Lions Park.
Town officials said money already available in the general fund will cover the required local match, rather than drawing the money from the parks budget. The town had approximately $23,000 budgeted for grant reimbursements after another anticipated grant did not materialize.
