Chamber President Kristy Barse hands out candy to trick or treaters during the Downtown Business Association’s Halloween Candy Crawl. Photo by Bruce Karnick

By Bruce Karnick

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One thing is very clear, Hastings’ residents are tired of being in their homes and they are going to jump at every opportunity they get to go out and about while the weather is still nice enough to do so. The weekend festivities for Halloween started on Friday night at the high school with the Parks and Recreation’s Community Halloween Party.

The Community Halloween Party, held on the Friday before Halloween, is a wonderful event where a number of high school students help facilitate games and a haunted hallway for community families. The haunted hallway was not possible this year with it being outside, but the students still had a blast coordinating games for families. They also collect food and cash donations for Hastings Family Service. The final collection information was not made available prior to printing. This year, over 1,600 people attended the event The Downtown Business Association hosts the Downtown Halloween Candy Crawl on the afternoon or early evening of Halloween. Second Street is closed to traffic and families wander from store-to-store trick or treating. This year, over 25 businesses appeared to be open and part of the event. There were games in the street, a DJ played spooky tunes and they also collected for Hastings Family Service. Hot chocolate was handed out near the beauty school and Hastings PD brought a cruiser down for kids to see.

An estimated 1,600 people participated in the Parks and Rec’s Community Halloween Party at Hastings High School. Photo by Bruce KarnickThe ‘Hastings Cow Girls” take a well deserved break from serving Hot Chocolate to guests during the candy crawl. Photo by Bruce Karnick

A group of Witches and Warlocks were outside Spiral Brewery having fun of their own, the candy crawl and Halloween is not just for kids. Periodically, some of the witches hopped on their “broombikes” and rode around entertaining the kids.Photo by Bruce Karnick

There were games scattered all over downtown. Here, Dracula plays mini golf.Photo by Bruck KarnickBrooklynn and Jill Ekstrom made the trip from Cannon Falls to see the Downtown Candy Crawl. Here The Grinch, AKA David Youngren, stops to say hi.Photo by Bruce Karnick