The City of Gainesville’s historic square will get a little sweeter – and spookier, with the return of the free Trick or Treat on the Square event.
“October has already been a fun-packed month for downtown Gainesville with Movies at Midland (Oct. 14) and SQUAREcrows on the Square (thru Oct. 31), and we’re looking forward to ending the fall-oween festivities on a sweet note with another wildly successful Trick or Treat on the Square,” said Special Events Manager Karen Diaz, with the Gainesville Tourism Department, who now oversees all City-hosted events downtown. “What we love most about this event is that participants can experience traditional ‘door-to-door’ trick-or-treating, but in a controlled, safe and easily accessible environment away from traffic, enhanced by local businesses and SQUAREcrows on the Square.”
Open and free to all ages, the event is slated for 3-6 p.m. and will involve local businesses, including restaurants/tasting rooms, retailers and service providers on the square. In addition to storefronts, there will also be over 20 community groups set up on the square participating as “candy stops”.
Balloons will be placed outside participating storefronts so trick-or-treaters can collect candy as quickly, and efficiently, as possible. Businesses will remove their balloons if/when they run out of candy.
A 5:30 p.m. costume contest will be held in the following age categories: 0-4 for the wee ones, 5-8 for those little ghouls and 9-12 for those ghastly bats! Returning this year will be a Best Group/Family Costume category.
Free parking will be available at the Gainesville North Parking Deck, 100 Brenau Ave. NW; Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.; Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St. SE; and Gainesville City Hall, 117 Jesse Jewell Parkway – all within walking distance to the square.
DOWN STREETS WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE EVENT: At noon, parking will close on Main, Bradford, Spring and Washington streets. At 1 p.m., Main, Bradford, Spring and Washington streets will close to allow vendors to set up.
To learn more about Trick or Treat on the Square or other upcoming holiday events, visit exploregainesville.org/annual-events.