Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.
Returning a Halloween-themed event to Blue Wahoos Stadium a year ago provided organizers with a new idea.
What about having Trick-or-Treat stations on the field, thus giving children a more wide-open, space and place to run around?
That will happen Friday night, beginning at 5 p.m. when the Blue Wahoos host a Halloween celebration night, sponsored by T-Mobile, and complete with popcorn, candy stations set up by area businesses, a Walt Disney movie, and a fireworks show above the stadium for families to enjoy.
Admission is $5 for the event and gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday to start the Trick-or-Treat procession.
“I love offering the stadium as a safe space for parents to have an alternative from, say, going door to door (in neighborhoods) for Halloween,” said Shannon Reeves, the Blue Wahoos events director. “I feel having businesses giving out candy in an open community space, still checks the boxes for kids to ‘Trick or Treat’, but also brings some comfort for wary parents who might not want kids to go door to door.”
The movie “Hocus Pocus” will be shown at 6 p.m. on the stadium video board. Ticket holders can either sit on the field (blankets only, no chairs), or utilize the stadium bowl seats to watch the film. Fireworks will follow. T-Mobile is providing popcorn bags for the first 500 people.
Following the movie, there will be a fireworks display to close out the event.
“To me, Hocus Pocus is your perfect, family, Halloween movie,” said Reeves, who wanted to ensure a movie did not contain violence or rough language. “It is a cult favorite and I think always will be. It is a fun, family movie.”
The Blue Wahoos have partnered with 30 area businesses, who will set up their stations along the perimeter of the field. A year ago, the Halloween night at the stadium utilized the concourses for Trick or Treat stations.
This time, it will enable people to purchase beverages and food at concessions areas without crowding the area.
“We’re excited about the plan to have everything on the field,” Reeves said. “The concourse is not super conducive to a Trick or Treat type of event with the main gate stairs in the middle. We wanted to give people the opportunity to go here, there, or everywhere and not be stuck in a line.
“Kids can run from booth to booth and have free reign of the stadium which I know parents will love. Get treats and then watch the movie.”
Incorporating local businesses was a popular pitch, she said.
“It gives those businesses a chance to come out, free of charge, and to have their businesses showcased in front of a large amount of people,” Reeves said.
“I think people really appreciated that. We were offering a chance to be part of a community event without having to pay anything.”
The Blue Wahoos held Halloween events in their early part of the team’s history. A year ago, the concept was brought back and revised during a time when the ongoing coronavirus pandemic cancelled many indoor Halloween events.
From that experience, the Blue Wahoos made the current revision.
“We had such a great turnout, such a great response,” Reeves said. “People were very grateful for it. We did it with a movie, which we had not done before in previous Halloween events.
“This gives us a chance to fulfill our mission again in the community. When we talked about this year, we decided on how to make this an even smoother, even better event.
“We’re just trying to give families a safe place to come, and give kids a safe place to come in their costumes. And not worry about traffic. Or not worry about running in the street.”
Friday’s event closes out a busy October at the stadium. In addition to a variety of smaller private events, Blue Wahoos Stadium has been a venue for the Soul Bowl youth football event, the Nitro Circus stunt bikes show, the First City Art Pumpkin Patch, along with two UWF football games.
‘It has been a banner October,” Reeves said. “We have seen probably the most diverse group of events in this stadium than I have ever seen. All of these events have brought in different audiences and demographics. And (Friday) will be a great finale to the month.”
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Halloween Night
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
WHEN: Friday, gates open at 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: $5 apiece.
FORMAT: Trick or Treat for children begins at 5 p.m. on the field with area businesses setting up stations. The Walt Disney movie, Hocus Pocus, will be shown at 6 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. Sponsor T-Mobile will provide popcorn bags.
TICKETS: Available online at www.bluewahoos.com or at the stadium box office.
PARKING: Available at stadium main lot, as well as the addition lots across street from ballpark.
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