Local Halloween spirit bubbles up as kids burst COVID-19 pods

Halloween had a different look in La Conner this year and not just because of new costume designs.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and precautions taken to curb spread of the virus forced cancellation of the traditional downtown parade and community party, the hallmarks of La Conner’s traditional Halloween festivities. Neighborhood trick-or-treating was limited, also.

But La Conner and Swinomish residents and business owners adapted to the new normal, ensuring that Halloween here would not be a mere ghost of its usual self.

Local folks were inventive in figuring ways to make trick-or-treating a socially distanced safe affair.

Rick and Paulette Dole were among those who created candy chutes atop their porch rails to slide sweet treats to costumed children waiting below.

Visitors to their home near the La Conner school campus were also greeted by assorted Halloween decorations, highlighted by a skeleton peering into the engine of their vintage “Ghost of Tom Joad” pickup.

Marna Hanneman, who serves on the Town Planning Commission, fittingly did some pre-planning for trick-or-treaters prior to that evening.

“I sat out on my porch and the candy was on my lower steps,” she said in a social media post afterward. “Most kids were in cars and the adults would roll down the windows and we would give them the thumbs-up.”

Hanneman said she often sees between 150 and 300 trick-or-treaters. The number this year was in the 40-60 range.

For her, quality overrode quantity.

“Every one of the kids seemed so thankful that there was someone to say trick or treat to,” said Hanneman. The parents also were so appreciative that we were doing Halloween.”

In the Doles’ neighborhood, numerous households observed COVID-19 protocols for trick-or-treating families.

Unlike most years, though, few made their way up to the top of the hill on Fourth Street or other usual favorite Halloween haunts.

They did, however, pull into the La Conner Retirement Inn parking lot for a two-hour trick-or-treat combined drive-thru and walk-up.

Fortunately, the weather was spook-tacularly boo-tiful, unlike a week earlier when steady rain made necessary the sudden morphing of drive-thru trick-or-treating at John K. Bob Ball Park on Swinomish Reservation into an inside walk-thru at the Tribal youth center.

Swinomish returned to the large ballfield, joined by Fire District 13 personnel, for a socially distanced trunk or treat celebration.

Town officials also did their part to salvage Halloween from coronavirus restrictions. Mayor Ramon Hayes, Town Administrator Scott Thomas, and Council members Mary Wohleb and John Leaver shared Halloween stories on-line with the community.

“That was very enjoyable,” said Hayes, who read “The Bumpy Little Pumpkin,” to which he gave rave reviews.

“By the way,” Hayes added, “I can’t wait for the movie to come out. It’s going to be fabulous.”

Making the best of a tough situation permeated throughout the La Conner area, where Halloween has long been a go-to and must-do tradition.

“The kids were so happy and polite,” said Rick Dole. “It was delightful.”