The Downtown Boo Bash returns to Storrs on Saturday, Oct. 25, welcoming costumes, trick-or-treaters and performances from 3 to 5 p.m.
The annual event came out of a collaboration between Mansfield Downtown Partnership and Mansfield Parks and Recreation, according to Kathleen Paterson, the senior communications director of Mansfield Downtown Partnership.
Since 2012, Mansfield Downtown Partnership started hosting a trick-or-treating event to highlight businesses in Downtown Storrs. For years before, Mansfield Parks and Recreation had been hosting an annual Halloween party with trick-a-trunk. Paterson said that two years ago, the two decided to join their events because the Halloween party at Mansfield Parks and Recreation was getting too large to accommodate. Since then, the Downtown Boo Bash has welcomed a plethora of visitors.
“Last year we had 1,400 [children],” Paterson said. “This event has consistently grown…We hold this rain or shine and, in the years, where it’s rained, we still got about 400 kids.”
Throughout the event, attendees will have the option to participate in a trick-or-treat at several Downtown Storrs businesses or a trick-a-trunk along Wilbur Cross Way. In the same location, Mansfield Parks and Recreation will also offer Halloween activities.
Performances from the E.O. Smith Drumline and Mansfield Academy of Dance will take place from 3 to3:30 p.m. on Betsy Patterson Square. New this year, people will be able to participate in themed group photos on the square based on their costumes from 3:45-4:30 p.m. Themes include animals and creatures, fairytale, superheroes and supervillains, scary costumes and more.
There is no rain date listed on the press release, stating the “Downtown Boo Bash will take place rain or shine.”
Like during the Celebrate Mansfield Festival, all internal roads in Downtown Storrs will close beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday to accommodate the event. On-street parking will not be permitted either starting at noon. Attendees are advised to park in the Downtown Storrs parking garage, which is free for the first two hours of parking and $1 for each consecutive hour.
There will be bus stop changes for the WRTD, HuskyGO, CT transit and Peter Pan due to the event as well. The WRTD and HuskyGO northbound buses will stop at Price Chopper and the southbound buses will stop at Mansfield Town Hall. CT transit will stop in the front parking lot of E.O. Smith High School. The Peter Pan eastbound bus to Providence will stop in front of the UConn Great Lawn on Storrs Rd., and the westbound bus to Hartford will stop on Storrs Rd. in front of E.O. Smith High School.
This is a free event open to all ages. However, children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult according to the release. Visit the Downtown Storrs website for a map, specific road closures and a full list of participating businesses.