Quaker Valley Rotary Club to host candy giveaway on Halloween at Sewickley building

Quaker Valley Rotary Club will offer a drive-up candy giveaway at the Sewickley borough building this Halloween in lieu of its traditional parade.

For more than 20 years, little monsters and ghouls have marched down Sewickley streets in late October, but the coronavirus pandemic changed all that for the borough and many other communities this year.

Rotary members came up with an alternative way to treat the tricksters while adhering to Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Volunteers, some likely in costume, will give out candy at 601 Thorn St. from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 31.

“We’re just going to ask everybody to stay in their cars when they drive up, and we’ll put treat bags in their cars, in the truck or wherever,” said rotary club President-elect Scott Zahner. “It’s something for the kids. We’re hoping that the families will drive up.”

There is no registration or proof of residency required. There will be signs directing traffic along Thorn Street and neighboring roads.

Zahner said club members have the option to wear costumes. All volunteers will be taking safety precautions.

“We will be wearing masks and gloves to help mitigate this (pandemic),” said Zahner. “The weather’s supposed to be OK. We’re hoping that the families will drive up.”

Rotary officials canceled the annual parade last month due to coronavirus concerns.

“We’ll have to reevaluate and see what next year brings,” Zahner said.

The Robert Morris University mascot is scheduled to attend the drive-up event along with music provided by WISH 99.7 FM.

Trick-or-treat in the borough is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween.

More information about the drive-up event is available at the Quaker Valley Rotary Club’s Facebook page.