by Sylene Argent
Great weather and a chance to celebrate Halloween a few days early brought hundreds of excited little ones to the downtown area to participate in the Essex Centre BIA’s annual Tiny Tot Trick or Treat event.
With the opportunity to collect candy in the Essex Centre business district, and the chance to show off their creative costumes, the event had a turnout for the record books.
The majority of businesses in the downtown district participated in the event by handing out sweet treats to chaperoned children under the age of five. Many of the business owners and their staff enjoyed the opportunity to decorate their store windows, play music, and dress-up in costume themselves. In addition, members of the Essex Centre BIA Board of Directors and 30 students from Essex District High School’s Business Leadership Class also dressed up and assisted with the parade.
Visitors were asked to think of donating non-perishable food items to participate, and, as a result, the Essex Centre BIA was able to collect an entire van full of canned goods, which was forwarded to help stock the shelves at the Essex Area Food Bank.
The annual Halloween-themed parade is all made possible by local businesses, and with the support of Town of Essex, OPP, and Essex Fire & Rescue, which helped to keep the small trick-or-treaters safe while enjoying the event.