HAMLET — Two more annual Halloween happenings have gotten the ax this year.
Richmond Community College has canceled its Trick or Treat on the Trail event.
College spokesperson Wiley Bell said officials feel like it was the safest choice for the community.
Last year, Cole Auditorium was decorated with spiderwebs and skeletons as a line of children from across the county walked through the halls collecting candy.
Although that event has been cancelled, the Cole is in the midst of its car-cert music series, which has its third installment Thursday night with Southern rock band Whiskey Brown, featuring Rockingham native Rodney Ingle on guitar.
Upcoming concerts include gospel group 2nd Chance Ministries on Thursday, Oct. 15; bluegrass band The Axe Handlers on Friday, Oct. 23; and 80s throwback band Cassette Rewind (with Richmond County native Brandon Kirkley) on Friday, Oct. 30.
Bell said the college was “happy to at least provide that type of entertainment for the community.”
The town of Dobbins Heights has also canceled its annual Trunk or Treat, citing safety concerns, according to Councilwoman Angeline David.
Earlier this week, the city of Rockingham and the Rockingham Downtown Corporation both canceled their Halloween events.
The CDC warns that traditional Halloween activities “can be high risk for spreading viruses” and says anyone exposed to COVID-19 should not participate in in-person festivities or hand out candy to children.
Pee Dee Region Paranormal is planning to make its annual downtown Rockingham ghost tour virtual this year, according to co-founder Robert Humphries.
He said the team plans to go live on Facebook “just to keep everybody safe and not having a lot of people in a group.”
No date has been set.
UPDATE: Hamlet Depot and Museum Director Mechelle Preslar said that while no ghost tour was planned for this year, she’s hoping to bring the event back in 2021.
