Downtown events slated Oct. 31
By Donnie A. Lucas
With the annual Fall Fest becoming a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce are banding together to offer an afternoon of fun and food on Saturday, Oct. 31 in the downtown area.
Merchants will be handing out trick-or-treat candy from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in front of stores along the downtown block. Other booths by special groups such as churches may also be set up in the Bank Park, although details had not been set at press time.
The event is being sponsored by the merchants’ committee, with Michelle Alexander at Vintage Vanilla serving as chairperson.
Other non-retail businesses or groups are welcome to take part and can contact Alexander about where to set up.
“This year we’re really trying to make the merchants’ trick-or-treat event much bigger since the Fall Fest has been cancelled,” she said.
Following the trick-or-treating, the public is invited to eat hot dogs at the Bank Park.
Members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce will be set up to sell meal deals from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.
A one hot dog meal, each with a hot dog or chili dog, including chips and drink, will cost $3, with a two hot dog deal available for $5.
The meal will serve as a fundraiser for the Chamber to pay for fall decorations in the downtown area that were installed a couple of weeks ago.
Upcoming Events
According to Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones, all Chamber lunches will be held at the Beehive Restaurant for the rest of October and through the month of November.
The Chamber will switch to the Icehouse for their December lunches.
Christmas Parade
The Chamber is planning the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade for Friday, Nov. 28.
Jones said there will be two kinds of tickets for Albany Bucks available this year. Shoppers can buy one ticket for $1, or they can earn bucks by spending $10 at downtown stores.
A free Christmas movie will be shown at the Aztec that day for children four and up, giving parents a chance to shop alone.
More information about the parade and ways to earn Albany Bucks will be announced in November.
