10/24/2025
Thanks to ElSage Shop for spearheading this!
"TLDR: We’re collecting candy and donations from the community to help with the Downtown Trick or Treat event.
Drop off candy: or
Venmo towards candy: (there’s a link in Stories). 100% of the donations will go towards candy for the event and we’ll share supplies to new businesses first.
For as long as I have been downtown the business owners who help put on Downtown Trick or Treat have been shouldering 100% of the candy and staffing cost for the event. Yesterday we had a meeting with downtown business owners, new and seasoned, and we realized that the old model could use an update.
When elSage has participated in past years it’s a $400 line item for us (and we still run out of candy partway through). That can feel like a heavy lift for a small business especially during a month that is traditionally slow for sales.
The Downtown Trick or Treat is joyous, good for the community, a fun PR opportunity, and a great trick or treat option for kids of all ages (especially littles). For businesses on first street it’s also a lost day of sales, and a staffing donation to the event.
Looking at all of the new businesses at our meeting yesterday I realized that we need to find another way to run this event. Here’s the ask: if you’re in a place to support would you be willing to donate a bag of candy or a few bucks towards candy? We will distribute focusing on new businesses first to make sure that businesses with the leanest budgets get the most help.
For 2026 and beyond, we’re talking about looking for community partners, and sponsors along with making community donations a regular thing.
If your city has a similar event and you know how the logistics are handled let me know in the comments or by message. I’m learning that the model we’ve been using is uncommon and I’m excited to hear about other examples."
