By Caroline Santiago
Parents can wipe away some of their Halloween fears, at “A Safe Head Start to Halloween” in downtown Provo Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Businesses in downtown Provo have joined together to provide a safe and fun environment for children to enjoy this Halloween.
Eighty businesses along Center Street and University Avenue will provide trick-or-treating from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., said Susan Bradford, executive director of the Downtown Business Alliance.
The Downtown Business Alliance is hosting the Halloween event for the first time in Provo.
The Alliance was formed on May 1 after the Provo City Council approved the group, Bradford said.
Some parents have increasing concerns about the safety of their children on the streets and the candy they receive at Halloween.
“This event will decrease parents” concerns because they will know that all the candy came from the same location,” she said.
Various activities along the streets of downtown will focus on teaching safety to children.
Fire trucks, police cars, the National Guard, Neighborhood Watch, Provo City Power and the American Red Cross will give demonstrations to children and parents to teach about safety, according to a news release.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention”s Web site, “Four times as many children aged 5-14 are killed while walking on Halloween evening compared to with other evenings of the year.”
To prevent injury when walking in neighborhoods, children should use flashlights and wear clothes that are bright and reflective, according to the CDC Web site.
The Provo Halloween event encourages safety and fun activities for children.
The main event will be a pumpkin-carving contest in front of the Provo Marriott, Bradford said.
“Children need to bring their own carved pumpkins and enter them into the contest in front of the Provo Marriott,” she said. “There will be a grand prize of $100 and other prizes based on age groups.”
If children forget their pumpkins, they can still carve their own at a pumpkin carving table located outside the Provo Marriott, according to a news release.
