Highlands’ Halloween celebration on Main Street may be cancelled, but that does not mean Halloween itself is cancelled.
On Thursday night Highlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kaye McHan notified the town board that the Chamber had decided to nix its annual Halloween bash. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, the thought of thousands of children and their parents meandering along main street in search of sweets was determined not to be in the best interest of public health.
The Chamber made the right call and cancelled the event in plenty of time for people to make alternate plans for Oct. 31.
Individual businesses may still choose to hand out candy, or celebrate the holiday in whatever way they see fit, but that is now the business owners’ choice. It will be the same with Highlands residents – an individual choice as to whether or not they choose to participate in either giving out or receiving treats.
In an unprecedented time, it is important to note just how well the Town of Highlands, the Chamber of Commerce, the business community and the nonprofit sector have adapted to ever-changing regulations.
Over the weekend the Dazzling Dahlia Festival gave residents and guests a unique experience by changing up the standard one location model for a festival and instead erected vignettes around town in multiple locations. The organizers of the festival thought quickly, made a plan, and adapted to the situation to pull off a successful event.
The same can be said the Mountaintop Art and Craft Show, the Mountain Motoring event, the restarted seminars at the Center for Life Enrichment, and the soon to be underway drive-in movies at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Putting those events together was not easy, but it shows what can be accomplished when smart people put their heads together.
Halloween won’t look the same this year, and that’s okay. If 2020 has offered one lesson above all others, it’s that Highlands will adapt and persevere.