The foam pit last year behind the fire department’s museum at the corner of Coronado and Narragansett. The Halloween tradition returns Monday.
A parade down Narragansett Avenue, a block of road closures for trick-or-treaters and a foam pit at the firehouse will invigorate the village Monday as local children celebrate Halloween.
The main street from Town Hall to East Ferry will be closed at 4:15 p.m. to allow the costumed cavalcade to proceed safely to the waterfront. Local police also will close Green Lane and Clinton Avenue from 5:30-8 p.m. to allow trick-or-treaters to collect candy without worrying about traffic. High Street between those roads also will be closed. The foam pit will rain soap and water on children from the ladder truck on Coronado Street behind the fire department’s museum at 50 Narragansett Ave.
Because more than 500 children are expected to trick-or-treat in the secured neighborhood, residents who hand out candy in the area are seeking donations. Bags of candy can be dropped off at 20A Clinton Ave., and the donations will be distributed to neighbors before Halloween. Newport Chowder Company’s food truck also will be parked at that address during the event.
Following a night of trick-or-treating, children will be encouraged to donate some of their candy in an effort to promote healthier eating habits while partaking in the season of giving. Coastal Dental is partnering with the recreation department and The Jamestown Press on the candy buy-back program.
Scuttled the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, the local dentist and newspaper will collect children’s Halloween candy in exchange for $20 gift certificates to any of the recreation department’s programs. The candy then will be donated to U.S. troops through Operation Gratitude, which sends the sweets to soldiers stationed across the world.
All kids have to do is bring in about one-half pound (at least 20 pieces) of their Halloween haul to Coastal Dental, 20 Clinton Ave., between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 2 or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3. The Jamestown Press, 45 Narragansett Ave., also will be drop-off site between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 4-5. Children must be present when the candy is donated.
The idea isn’t that sweets are bad, just that they should be eaten in moderation. In exchange for their candy, kids can enjoy a healthy activity and take pleasure in the spirit of giving and helping others.
Both Coastal Dental and The Jamestown Press also will contribute $5 for each donation on behalf of the kids who participate to a local group or event benefitting Jamestown residents.
