Halloween is just around the corner and numerous organizations are planning events that will take place over the weekend.
On Monday, Downtown Odessa, along with local businesses, will be coming together to offer a fun and safe environment for community members with Treats on the Street.
The event will take place 4-7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Participants can pick up a stamp page from local businesses participating and visit those places to get their page stamped.
People can then take their stamped pages to the Downtown Odessa table to enter their stamp page for an entry to giveaways.
The idea for Treats on the Street came after the success of Downtown Odessa’s Easter Egg hunt earlier this year.
“It will be very similar to our egg hunt that we did in the spring,” Downtown Odessa Events and Marketing Coordinator Savannah Woodward said. “There will be participating business… we’ll be able to pick up a map from any of those businesses (and) anyone who would like to participate. It’ll show all the businesses that are participating and where they are on the map. You’ll also get a stamp page. You’ll go to each of these businesses and you’ll get a chance to trick or treat or if they’re giving out goodies or anything like that. Then, they will stamp your page for you. If you get up to 10 stamps, then you can turn it in to the Downtown Odessa table and that’s how you’re entered for some big ticket giveaways that we’re doing. We have a Nintendo Switch, a couple of TVs, a hover board, a kindle. Tons of stuff.”
Woodward said that Downtown Odessa will be giving away free t-shirts while supplies last.
“We (also) have tons of snacks that we’ll be giving out and other giveaways,” Woodward said.
Each of the businesses that will be participating will be on the map.
“It’s just going to be located in the businesses in downtown,” Woodward said. “You’ll stop by each one that’s listed on the map. That gives people a chance to get inside those businesses and see what they have to offer and hopefully those businesses get some new sales or customers.”
The event will be similar to the egg hunt.
“We had an amazing success with our egg hunt when we tried it this way with the map and inviting people to come down and do the egg hunt,” Woodward said. “We gave away 14,000 eggs in a two-day span. We’re hoping that translates to treats on the street and that we’ll have great success with that. I think the community enjoyed the egg hunt. It’s a way to continue fulfilling our mission and it’s a great, free, family-fun event for the community.”
Ector County Library
Once again, Ector County Library will be putting on Halloween in the Park this Saturday.
The event is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 29.
“We will have library staff and our Friends of the Library will be joining us,” Children’s Librarian at Ector County Library Jamie Henry said. “Our therapy dog Felix will be joining us. He might have a couple of friends. We have other community partners such as the Girl Scouts, Permian Basin Literary Coalition and we’ll have Odessa Animal Control coming over to do their adoption event.”
Henry talked about how much fun the library has in putting on Halloween in the Park.
“We love being able to put on these big community events,” Henry said. “That way, we get more people coming to join us and they can see everything that the library has to offer. It’s not just books but we try to offer them a safe place to come and explore creativity and get free things.”
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/4ds892yp.
Ellen Noël Art Museum
Other places will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos including the Ellen Noël Art Museum.
From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29, the museum — which is temporarily located at the Presidential Archives at the University of Texas Permian Basin due to the renovation work — will be hosting an event where the public is invited to celebrate and learn more about the customs and traditions of the special holiday while enjoying hands-on art activities.
The event will feature a dance performance by Viva Mexico Ballet Folklorico Dancers as well as a musical performance by Mariachi Armonia.
Guests will also be able to view the exhibitions at the archives.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/2p8k4kr9.
Downtown Art Tour
The Ellen Noël Art Museum won’t be the only place celebrating Dia de los Muertos.
Today, Downtown Odessa, in a partnership with Odessa Arts, will be putting on the second edition of the Downtown Art Tour which will have a Dia de los Muertos theme.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Ector Theatre.
This week’s Downtown Art Tour will celebrate the history and culture of Dia de los Muertos on a guided walking tour, which will stop at five local businesses downtown.
More information on the Downtown Art Tour can be found at tinyurl.com/5d9pe9ej.
If you go
- What: Downtown Art Tour.
- When: Tours will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 28.
- Where: Begins at Ector Theatre.
- Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/2s49hm4n
If you go
- What: Dia de los Muertos celebration.
- Where: Ellen Noël Art Museum (Presidential Archives).
- When: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct 29.
If you go
- What: Halloween in the Park.
- Where: Noel Heritage Park.
- When: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 29.
If you go
- What: Treats on the Street.
- Where: Downtown Odessa.
- When: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
