Residents young and old will show off their Halloween costumes at an afternoon of spooky fun during Boo at the Creek Oct. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Nose Creek Park.
According to co-organizer Jen Fraser, the committee behind the event has been planning this fifth iteration since August, and she anticipates this will be the biggest and best in the its history.
“When we did it back in 2015 for year one, we were shocked when we got about 500,” she said. “We were like, ‘OK, well, this was big. We weren’t expecting this. This can actually be something. Let’s do it again.’ And it’s just continued to grow, which is awesome.”
The family-friendly event will feature several games and activities such as a monster beanbag toss, candy corn musical, an obstacle course and coffins where kids can dig for prizes. Craft stations will also be set up, and superhero and princesses will be on hand for photos. A dance crew and DJ will contribute to the lively atmosphere.
This year, the event is expanding slightly – Fraser said Boo at the Creek features around 15 game stations, compared to 12 last year.
The Calgary Ghostbusters, a non-profit cosplay group, will also be in attendance and will bring Slimer and Stay Puft along, as well.
Residents young and old are encouraged to dress up, Fraser said, and prizes will be handed out for best-dressed kids, parents and families.
“This is your first opportunity to wear your Halloween costume out and about, and let your friends and your family and everybody see it before you actually go trick-or-treating,” she said.
Adding, the event will also feature “copious amounts of candy for everyone.”
Admission to Boo at the Creek is free with a donation to the Airdrie Food Bank. According to Fraser, the group that originally devised the event – having all worked for non-profits – were aware of the how the food bank responds to needs in the community and chose to support the organization annually at the cusp of its busiest season.
“Last year, we saw our biggest number because, I think, we saw our biggest amount of people come through the park,” she said. “We raised $6,800 in both monetary and non-perishable food items for them last year. We’ve raised $15,000 total the first four years.”
The event has become a mainstay in Airdrie, Fraser said, and she believes its continued growth and success demonstrate Boo at the Creek’s valuable contribution to local community spirit.
Because people enter and exit the park from multiple points, it can be hard to count attendees, Fraser said, but organizers recorded more than 1,500 people last year at the food donation booth alone, and estimate total attendance was between that and 2,000 people. She said at least as many people are expected to attend this year, so long as the weather is good.
The event will take place outdoors regardless of the temperature, and while cold can deter people from attending, Fraser said it has drawn a big turnout in the past even when facing wind and snow.
“The diehards still came out and it was still super fun,” she said. “We know it will be a success, either way.”
