NICER prepares for 2nd annual Halloween walk

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Hurley — Even with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Northern Iron County Engaged Residents is preparing for its second annual Spooky Halloween Trail Walk.

The event is scheduled for Oct. 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hurley School Adventure Trail.

NICER started the trail walk last year after the Hurley Fun Frolic didn’t happen.

“So NICER decided to offer a fun Halloween event in its place,” said Rebecca Holm, one of the people planning the trail walk.

She explained the group decided to pursue a trick-or-treating trail walk with area businesses, organizations and families volunteering to man themed stations.

“It was not only fun for the guests who came through, but it was also fun for the (volunteers) because everyone that participated was in costume and just having fun,” Holm said.

The community was receptive to the event.

“Last year's inaugural Spooky Halloween Trail Walk proved to be NICER's most successful event of 2019, with 90-plus volunteers, 22 themed stations along the trail and 200-plus guests who, ‘dared to walk the spooky trail to get some sweet treats,’” NICER’s website reads.

This year’s trail will be split into two sections — one for younger kids and one for older ones.

“It will still be spooky for the younger children, but then there’s also going to be a separate section for 10-year-olds and up that will be scarier,” Holm said.

Organizers are still looking for volunteers for this year’s event.

Kari Klemme, another of the event’s organizers, hopes to meet or exceed the 200-guest attendance number this year. However, weather may provide a challenge to that goal.

In the case of bad weather, Holm said they plan to have a drive-thru goodie bag distribution. Organizers plan to announce any weather cancelation on NICER’s Facebook page on Oct. 23, according to Holm, with the date and time of the drive-thru event posted at the same time.

The coronavirus pandemic is also forcing organizers to adapt.

Working with the Iron County Health Department, Klemme said this year won’t feature candy being distributed on the trail, but rather a goodie bag will be offered at the end of the trail to limit direct contact between people.

Everyone attending the event will be required to wear a mask, according to Klemme, and hand sanitizer stations will be set up at the beginning and end of the trail.

Without candy distribution, Holm said she hopes volunteers embrace their roles more when interacting with the people on the trail. However, organizers are discouraging direct contact between people.

They are also recommending stations be manned by families, coworkers or people who are already in COVID bubbles with the other people at the station.

Anyone who is sick is asked to stay home.

Unlike last year, the event also won’t feature food in the Hurley Commons after the event as a further precaution against spreading COVID.

“Hopefully next year we’ll be able to (bring that back),” Holm said.

Along with the trail walk this year, NICER is holding a pumpkin-carving contest.

There will be three prizes given in the contest, with winners in the best youth carving, best adult carving and best overall carving categories.

The winners will be announced during the event, according to Holm, and pumpkins can be dropped off between noon and 12:30 p.m. that day and picked up at 6:30 p.m. after the walk.

The entries will also be displayed as decorations along the trail during the event.

Call Holm at 715-862-0800, or email [email protected], for more information about the trail walk.