STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Several bags full of M&Ms took to the streets of Hailey Friday afternoon.
So did a pint-sized Harry Potter, knight in shining armor and scarcrow as Hailey’s Halloween Hoopla returned to the Wood River Valley following a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic.
“It’s great to have it back,” said Carl Browning of ProSource Produce. “I grew up in Hailey, and we used to have to work a lot harder for our candy as there weren’t so many people then. So, it’s fun to have the merchants treat the kids the way they do.”
Children, parents and a whole lot of dogs shuffled through leaves, reveling in temperatures that hung around 60 degrees, as they filled bags with Snicker bars, 100 Grand bars and even tiny pretzel bags that Audio Innovation handed out.
Dulce Briseno, who moved to Hailey from Boise this past year, handed out candy for Sage Bookkeeping.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’m amazed how such a small community puts something together like this for the kids,” she said.”
One youngster dressed up as a marshmallow. Alejandra Guzman and Javier Juarez dressed up like chips and salsa, while Olivia Williams dressed up as a carton of milk, even though she’s not too fond of the real thing.
Meredith Johnston took her place next to her father Carl Johnston as he handed candy dressed as a Knights Templar with a ghoulish face.
“He dressed up like this when I was a kid and I always wanted to be just like him,” she said. “Now I can finally take my place next to him.”
Kids and parents weren’t the only ones dressing up. So were a plethora of dogs—among them, standard poodles Rosie and Rupert and their friend, a labradoodle named Pinot.
“They seem to love it,” said Tamara Rose, who was there with Anne Kelsey and Pinot. “They visit with other dogs, get treats and look around at all the people in costumes. One of the dogs is in training so this is good for her.”
“It’s great to be back,” said Chamber Director Mike McKenna as he wandered the sidewalks with the trick-or-treaters. “There’s lots of people, lots of smiles. And Hailey is more spaced out than ever before stretching out further in both directions.”
HALLOWEEN ISN’T OVER YET
The Hailey Public Library and Mountain Rides will host a free Halloween-themed Bike Rodeo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today--Saturday, Oct. 30-- at the new Hailey Town Square behind the library. Children are encouraged to bring a bike and helmet—there’s no registration required.
· The Sun Valley Museum of Arts is hosting a Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring special altars, traditional music and traditional food provided by The Hunger Coalition from 1 to 4 p.m. at its Hailey House, 314 Second Ave. S., in Hailey.
· Adults are invited to turn out for Nightmare on Main Street from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Ketchum.
There’ll be music and a costume contest will be held at 10 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for scariest, sexiest, most creative, best group and best overall.