Halloween made an early visit to downtown Foley on Thursday, Oct. 29, as the city kicked off its annual Hometown Halloween celebration.
Thousands of costumed children, and some adults, filled the streets of Foley along East Laurel Avenue, South Alston Street and East Orange Avenue, collecting candy and other prizes as well as taking part in games, activities and the costume contest.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich told the crowd that Hometown Halloween is an annual tradition going back to when some of the parents taking part were costumed children on the same streets.
“This is awesome. Every year, we celebrate Hometown Halloween,” Hellmich said. “Our Hometown Halloween is over 20 years old and it’s really a big party.”
Hellmich praised the city employees who organized, set up and oversaw the event.
“We appreciate everything that our team does,” Hellmich said. “This was all set up today, and it will be broken down tonight so that it can be business as usual downtown tomorrow.”
The Parks and Recreation Department set up the stage where the costume contest was held and put out other decorations. Public Works Department employees painted parking spaces, set out barricades and assisted the police with road closures.
The Police Department also monitored activity during the event. The Fire Department provided on-site fire and medical coverage and set up lighting.
The Destination and Event Services Department organized and oversaw the overall activities during Hometown Halloween.
While the celebration was largely marked by community joy and family-friendly activities, an unfortunate incident occurred during the gathering. A young girl was bitten by an attendee’s dog, casting a shadow over the festivities.
The young victim’s mother, Erica Moore, is seeking help and information from the community regarding the incident.
The event has prompted local discussions and raised important questions regarding policies and safety guidelines surrounding whether aggressive or uncontrolled dogs should be permitted to attend large public City events.
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