Funkstown cancels Halloween parade; Olde Tyme Christmas festivities up in the air

FUNKSTOWN — Funkstown officials decided Monday night to cancel the annual Halloween parade in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also determined that Olde Tyme Christmas will not happen in its traditional form, Mayor Paul Crampton confirmed in a phone interview after the mayor and Town Council meeting.

Town officials haven't made a decision yet about trick or treat.

Audio from the meeting was broadcast on the town's Facebook page Monday night, but sometimes the voices were garbled. The town meetings have been closed to the public because of the pandemic.

The town usually sets a time and date for trick or treat, typically the last Friday in October, Town Manager Brenda Haynes told Herald-Mail Media earlier in the day. The parade is usually the last Thursday in October.

Expressing concerns about the ability to social distance and the absence of bands from any possible parade, Assistant Mayor Sharon Chirgott told her colleagues she didn't think a parade was a possibility this year.

"If we're the only town that has trick or treat, look out," Crampton told his colleagues.

Town officials decided to wait and see what neighboring Hagerstown decides Tuesday about trick or treat during the mayor and City Council meeting. Crampton asked Haynes to call the other small towns in the county to determine their plans.

There was some discussion about the council deciding via phone what to do about trick or treat so they wouldn't have to wait until the October meeting.

Asked in phone call after the meeting how that would be done and make it a public meeting, Crampton said he, as mayor, would decide whether there will be trick or treat. He said he'll make that decision by Sept. 25.

Haynes said the Funkstown American Legion's ladies auxiliary had already decided not to hold its annual Halloween party for local children after the parade. Typically the auxiliary hosts the party and the town has been paying for the goodie bags and snacks. There's also a costume contest.

Bands from South Hagerstown High, E. Russell Hicks Middle and Northern Middle schools have participated in the Halloween parade in recent years, Haynes said. Vehicles from the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Co., costumed animals from the Animal Health Clinic of Funkstown, and local folks walking in costume have been other facets of the parade, she said.

Town officials are looking to hold some kind of alternate event instead of Olde Tyme Christmas and still comply with social distancing, Crampton said after the meeting.

During the meeting, Councilman John Phillips III asked if the town could use the money set aside for Olde Tyme Christmas to do something for local businesses on that date, Dec. 11.

Crampton said after the meeting that town officials will check in with other organizations that usually participate in the Christmas event to see what, if anything, they want to do.