by Heidi Gómez ·
Friday, October 25, 2024
Newcomers to Harvard, such as myself, may not be aware of the long tradition of Halloween festivities in and around the Common. This year, Oct. 31 falls on a Thursday, and trick-or-treating officially will be held between 5 and 7 p.m.
Historically, hundreds of costumed children have descended on the Common where houses are clustered closer together than other parts of town, making it easier for trick-or-treaters to get to on foot. The numbers reportedly got out of hand, such that a former resident pressed for those living outside of the town center to donate candy to the 40 or so homes deluged by these sweets-seekers.
Three decades later, we have the candy collection and distribution campaign of today. Our Halloween candy coordinator, Trish Rouvel, also known as administrative assistant for the Harvard Police and Fire departments, starts preparing early. In September, she drafts a letter to find out which households will be handing out candy on Halloween. She has developed a solid email directory over the years. Then, there are notices on various social media platforms requesting that candy donations be brought to the decorated bins at the Harvard Public Safety Building, 40 Ayer Road. Rouvel periodically empties the bins and packs up the candies in reusable bags for participants to pick up. When we spoke, Rouvel had packed 40 bags, but there was still more candy coming in. One resident said he can give out up to 1,200 pieces of candy that night.
Trick-or-treaters can expect to get candy from most of the houses around the Common. This year, Fivesparks is also joining the fun. “Fivesparks has not regularly participated in handing out candy, and we’re excited to do so now!” emailed AnaMaria Nanra, Fivesparks’ executive director.
Many of the houses are decked out in their finest Halloween garb. But I’ve been told that a handful decorate to Hollywood-set standards. Cue Barbie’s dream house. Last year, owner, producer, and creative director Hilary Maglothin was inspired after seeing the Barbie movie. She transformed her house into a pink pastiche of all things good and fun about the movie. This year, we can expect something a little more old school but no less elaborate: Candy Land! Without giving too much away, keep a look out for a gingerbread house, 16-foot tall lollipops, and maybe a goat, depending on his mood that day.
Ellie Maglothin hands out candy last year to Lydia Coyne, Marin Lynch, and Anino Babalola on the steps of the Barbie Dream House. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
For the past eight months, Maglothin has been imagining how to manifest the board game. She said starting early helps her maintain a happy Halloween-life balance. She has found recycled or repurposed materials through the social media site Nextdoor; neighbors chancing on things at the Transfer Station have dropped these off by her front door, in case she can use them. Maglothin appeared heartened by both family and community involvement. “My end game is to make people believe in the happiness of childhood. Look around, there is so much goodness.”
Houses decorated for Halloween are typically easy to spot. One might have to work a little harder to find the haunted house in the Congregational Church of Harvard. It’s in their basement, and people just know about it because it has been a Harvard tradition to have a Halloween haunted house there for years now. Congregation member Michaela Taranto is the adult overseeing six or seven high school volunteers staging the haunted house this year. The walls of a hallway and a storage room will be draped in black plastic. Spider webs will be hung to give it a creepy vibe. There may be costumed high schoolers leaping out of hiding and doing “jump scares” to entertain the people going through in small groups. After one group finishes, the next group will be ushered in.
The haunted house is hugely popular and in previous years there has always been a line of people outside the church waiting their turn. Nearby will be some congregation members who will be handing out popcorn. The Congregational Church haunted house will also be serving a good cause. There will be a bucket for donations, which in the past have included monetary gifts and canned goods for Loaves & Fishes. But it is not required for entry, and Taranto said that no child will be turned away for not handing over a can of beans.
Another town Halloween tradition is the tent set up by the Harvard Lions Club on the Common. Club president Wade Holtzman said they have been doing so for 20 years now, maybe even longer. The Lions Club volunteers set up their tents, a small kitchen, and portable trailer, just as they do for other events, such as the Fourth of July celebration and the annual Harvard Flea Market. They display carved pumpkins, and give out free hot dogs, popcorn, and water. Holtzman expects to feed about 700 people. The Lions’ social media posts also advertise a picture booth, music, and dancing, and candy, of course. Club members are dressed up in costumes, and Holtzman said it’s a nice focus for all the families out trick-or-treating. There is high community involvement. “This is an interesting little town,” he added.
The Harvard General Store is an active participant in the Harvard Halloween traditions. Owner Scott Hayward said that staff members dress up in costumes that night. One year, Hayward was surprised when he walked in to find every single staff member dressed up as him, complete with a wig. “Hysterical,” he said.
The store will be open during trick-or-treating for beer and wine sales. Every year, Hayward also makes beef chili that he gives away. The store will remain open at least an hour after the official end of trick-or-treating. Many of the hundreds of people walking around the Common on past Halloweens find themselves heading to the General Store, and both floors of the store become jam-packed with parents and children. Hayward said people do not linger but come and go throughout the evening. The General Store can accommodate them all. “It’s spooky chaos,” he said.
So ready your broom or jetpack or whatever your conveyance of choice, and head on down to the Common for a spooktacular Halloween.