Oakmont Chamber of Commerce to host Halloween event Oct. 29

Oakmont Chamber of Commerce and borough businesses want to do their part to ensure children have a safe and spooky Halloween.

The chamber is hosting a trick-or-treat event from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 along Allegheny River Boulevard.

Many shops from College to Pennsylvania avenues will have candy for children, and participate in a window/door decorating contest for a chance at a gift card to a borough restaurant.

“I think we’re going to get a large crowd,” chamber Director Karen DeTurck said. “It’s hard to judge something like that. If it rains, we might not get anyone.”

Participants are encouraged to wear masks and social distance when possible.

The idea for the event came from chamber members Nina Komaniak of Moonbeam Cafe and Mary DiMatteo of Precious + Posh. The two are Oakmont neighbors and talk frequently.

“We thought instead of ‘going rogue,’ we wanted to run it by the chamber thinking everyone along the Boulevard would want to be involved,” DiMatteo said of their Halloween planning. “It grew out of that. This is open to everybody, and the feedback’s been great. There are a lot of moms who are excited about it.”

Some shops will also have goodie bags with toys and other gift items for families.

Komaniak said Halloween is her favorite time of the year, and this event is was one way to help bring people together with many communities canceling Halloween activities.

“My expectation is to create an experience for the kids,” she said. “It’s going to be spooky, with music playing and fog machines. It’s just a little piece of normalcy that we haven’t seen in a really long time.”

Chip Chip the Oakmont squirrel will be at the Oaks Theater for photos.

Theater technical director JR Shaw said a slide is being built to send candy to children while social distancing.

The Oaks will also show cartoons during the event. About 50 people can sit and watch at a time as per the state’s new guidelines for indoor event capacity during the pandemic.

“We are really excited,” Shaw said. “Everybody here at The Oaks loves Halloween. We’re committed to finding safe ways to still have spooky fun.”

There will not be a Halloween parade this year. For more than a decade the Riverside Women’s Association presented the parade along the Boulevard.

An association spokesperson said logistically it was not possible to do this year.

DeTurck thanked Komaniak and DiMatteo for coming up with an event to fill that void.

“It’s so nice to have members be involved and bring us ideas,” she said. “We love it. We just ran with it and made posters and all kinds of things for it.”

More information about the event is available at oakmont-pa.com.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the boulevard will not be closed for the event.

The borough recently announced its trick-or-treat will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Fodi recommended participants wear masks and follow other health and safety protocols.