Rosedale Development Association invites the public to walk along the first Haunted Halloween trail in the Rozarks from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.
While there will be a spooky atmosphere to the event, it will nevertheless be appropriate for all ages because the trail walk will be family-friendly and geared toward a younger audience.
After the Harvest will be holding a pumpkin give-away and other community partners will be present with booths and resources. In lieu of candy, healthy snacks will be provided to the first 100 youth.
“The idea for a haunted walk actually happened during RDA’s Luminary trail last holiday season,” said Samanthé Burton-Bosket, RDA’s program director. “Neighbors loved celebrating the holidays on the trails, and we wanted to celebrate Halloween the same way!” Given that the woods always look a little spooky in the autumn as the leaves fall, RDA felt that a Halloween-themed trail walk would be a fun event for all of Rosedale to enjoy.
The haunted trail walk begins at Mount Marty Park, home of the Rosedale Memorial Arch and one of the trailheads of the Rozarks hiking trails.
The Haunted Halloween trail walk will be approximately half a mile long and will feature a spooky spider cave, werewolf den, and witch’s lair. Although the sun won’t set until 6:30 p.m., RDA recommends attendees bring flashlights because the woods may be darker earlier. Halloween costumes are encouraged but remember to bring comfy walking shoes.
Healthy Halloween began during the Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative, which was created by a coalition of RDA, University of Kansas Medical Center, Rosedale Ministerial Alliance, and KC Healthy Kids. This coalition studied factors correlated with poor health determinants among children in Rosedale. They identified a need for increased opportunity for youth to make healthy food choices and be physically active.
During Halloween season, children are offered candy almost everywhere they go. Healthy Halloween is a fun and active alternative where the snacks are healthy and the candy is saved for another day. In 2015, then KCK Mayor Mark Holland proclaimed the festival date as “Healthy Halloween Day,” emphasizing the importance of nutritious options for kids and “a neighborhood culture where the healthy choice is easy and fun.”
RDA is presenting the Haunted Halloween Trail as a safe and outdoor variation of their annual Healthy Halloween event. All social distancing guidelines will be followed during this event and the public is asked to wear masks when they are within six feet of people outside of their household.
For updates, visit www.facebook.com/RosedaleDevelopment.