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This year, Halloween landed on a Saturday, which made things a little easier for our family right from the start. No rushing home from school to get costumes on, no trying to squeeze in last-minute Halloween decorations or pumpkin carving after a full day, and no worrying about staying out too late when everyone has school the next morning. We actually had the whole day to enjoy Halloween, and that’s always a nice bonus.
But one of the things that makes Halloween even better is getting to spend it in downtown Gig Harbor. If you haven’t experienced Halloween down by the waterfront, it’s a pretty fun place to be.
The downtown waterfront area closes off the street for Halloween, making it much easier and safer for kids, parents, and even four-legged trick-or-treaters to walk between the different businesses and candy stations. Honestly, I think closing the road is a pretty smart idea. Without it, there would be so many people crossing back and forth that I’m pretty sure the drivers would be more frightened than the kids in costumes!
Downtown was packed this year. There were kids everywhere, parents keeping up with them, plenty of dogs dressed up for the occasion, and lots of people just enjoying the afternoon. The local businesses seemed to be having a great time, too. Most had candy set up right outside their doors, which worked out really well. Kids could grab their treats without everyone having to squeeze in and out of the stores, while the businesses could still welcome people inside. It kept things moving and helped avoid turning every shop into a Halloween traffic jam.
We also got lucky with the weather. Last year was pretty wet and rainy, so having the sun out this year was a welcome change. It was still chilly, as you’d expect for a late October afternoon in the Pacific Northwest, but not cold enough to take away from the fun. I’ll take a little sunshine and a jacket over rain-soaked costumes any day.
One of my favorite parts was just walking around and seeing all the different costumes. There were some pretty creative ones, and it was fun seeing how much effort people put into them. There were also plenty of friendly dogs out enjoying the afternoon, some dressed up and some just happy to be included. The kids managed to collect more than enough candy, which I’m sure was their favorite part of the whole experience. I’m still not sure how they manage to walk around for an hour collecting candy and somehow come home with enough to last until next Halloween. That’s a skill I never quite developed.
It’s events like this that remind me why I enjoy living in Gig Harbor. We have a waterfront downtown with local shops and restaurants, and when the community gets together for events like Halloween, it really shows off that small-town feel. It’s a chance for families to get out, see neighbors, enjoy the businesses, and spend some time together without having to plan anything too complicated.
All in all, it was a great Halloween. We had good weather, saw some fun costumes, met a few friendly dogs, and the kids came home with plenty of candy. I’m not sure what else you could ask for. If you haven’t made it down to downtown Gig Harbor for Halloween before, it’s definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for crowds, lots of candy, and the possibility that you’ll end up carrying a jacket, a costume accessory, and someone’s bag of candy by the time you’re done. That’s just part of being a parent!
