Halloween Trick-or-Treat spreads across Ellijay this year

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer will be seeing changes to Trick-or-Treat traditions this weekend as many are still attempting social distancing and self-quarantining practices after the COVID outbreak.

This year, the Gilmer Chamber is not sponsoring or hosting the event. The Chamber had previous cancelled major events like the Apple Festival. They are supporting other organizations in helping to spread information, but they are not directly involved.

Instead, there will be different downtown area events from other organizations looking to provide for the holiday.

The first of these takes place on October 28, 2020, as the Ellijay First United Methodist Church will hold a one-way social distanced trick or treat event on McCutchen Street across from Ellijay Elementary School.

Then, the main event will be at Harrison Park from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a community-sponsored Trick-or Treat event. According to reports, several foundations and organizations are joining to put this together on October 31, 2020, at 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Those involved will be wearing protective masks and gloves and police will be on hand as they are every year.

Just like the church event, the path is set on a one way walk through with volunteers and organizers set along the path to hand out candy.

But this is not the only stop for trick-or-treaters for the night. Other events include a costume contest at the Tractor Supply store on First Avenue. This event is also selling burgers, hotdogs, and drinks to benefit Shelter Dogs for Veterans.

After the park and the costume contest that night, there will also be drive-through Trick-or-Treat events at the American Legion, 297 Legion Rd 4 – 6 p.m., and at Harry Norman Realtors, 312 South Main Street 6 – 8 p.m.

With no downtown event on the square for Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, many citizens are thankful for any event amid the virus.