FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville and Springdale officials said they’re not saying boo about when residents take their kids out to trick or treat.
Halloween this year comes on Sunday, a school night for kids and a day of faith for some. The weekend also features a University of Arkansas Homecoming Parade on Dickson Street on Friday night and a game against Vanderbilt for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team Saturday night.
Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan’s Facebook page has received multiple queries from residents wondering if the city plans to announce any collective shift in observing the traditions of Halloween.
“It looks like right here on my calendar it says Halloween’s on Sunday,” said Lindsley Smith, Jordan’s director of communication. “We didn’t do it last year or the year before. It’s on the same day. Halloween is Halloween.”
Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said his city isn’t getting involved either.
“For us to get involved would just cause more confusion,” Sprouse said.
Although some mayors in Arkansas have been known to issue proclamations or statements shifting observance of Halloween, there is no specific legal authority that empowers a mayor to make such a change.
Kit Williams, Fayetteville’s city attorney, said Halloween isn’t even an official holiday, but a custom.
“The mayor certainly has no power to tell people ‘You’re going to observe this custom on the day I tell you you’re going to observe it,’” Williams said.
Smith said the city of Fayetteville will participate in a Halloween event set for Friday afternoon on the Square that will allow kids to trick or treat and show off their costumes.
The ninth annual Trick or Treat on the Square will be from 3 to 5 p.m.
Merchants around the downtown Fayetteville Square will hand out candy and the event will also include games, pictures, a costume contest, a pet costume contest and a pet parade.
Additional information is available by contacting Julie Pennington at the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau, 521-5776 or [email protected].
The city of Farmington sent out notice last week indicating plans to observe Halloween on Sunday. The city set 6 to 9:30 p.m. as the hours for children to trick or treat.