Glebe Halloween Village will offer accessible trick-or-treating for kids and youth with disabilities. It will take place October 26 on Glebe Avenue. Come join the fun!
Logo: Kieran Tulloch
By Shauna Pollock
Me and my friend Eliot love Halloween. The lights, the costumes, the candy. Halloween is a magical way to meet your neighbours. But for kids and youth with disabilities, Halloween can be more than a little scary – it’s dark, it’s crowded and it’s rarely accessible for neurodiverse kids, or kids using mobility aids.
That’s why we’ve organized the first annual Glebe Halloween Village! It will take place October 26 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Glebe Avenue between Bank and Lyon Street South.
Glebe Halloween Village – what is it?
- Daytime trick-or-treating with low sensory inputs (no flashing lights, no loud noises and no startling animatronics)
- Tables of allergy-safe goodies and sensory-friendly small toys. No tricks, all treats!
- Free masks for volunteers and families to make sure vulnerable kids can trick or treat safely
- Lots of neighbours in friendly costumes, and maybe a few special guests!
We’re not doing this alone. Last year, Eliot learned about a charitable organization called Treat Accessibly that works to make trick-or-treating more accessible to disabled children and youth. Treat Accessibly hosts a few events each year, but there’s also a kit you can download to organize an accessible trick-or-treat in your neighbourhood. (Note: we are not at all affiliated with Treat Accessibly, but they sure inspired us this year!)
When Eliot found out about the kit, they made a post on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested in helping them to organize an accessible Halloween. My family and I offered to help, and three weeks later we were overwhelmed with the number of neighbours who wanted to make this happen! Volunteers, business owners and so many families have given their time to this event, and we’re excited to celebrate with you on October 26.
To find out more, follow us on Instagram at @glebehalloweenvillage. You can RSVP for free at our Eventbrite page at https://bit.ly/glebehalloweenvillage. For questions or to volunteer, please email us at glebehalloweenvillage@gmail.com.
Shauna Pollock is a mom, educator and author who lives in the Glebe. She wishes it was Halloween all year long, and so does her four-year-old son!