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Events manager: Halloween will be "reimagined" as Oct. 10 fall festival with three experiences
Summary
Events Manager Jocelyn Abenakyo told the Parks & Recreation Board that Halloween in the Park will be consolidated into a single Fall Festival on Oct. 10, 2026, combining a 5K, daytime family activities and evening haunted-house experiences to fit vendor scheduling; staff said child-focused programming will be preserved and that the city will continue to refine logistics.
Events Manager Jocelyn Abenakyo told the Parks & Recreation Board that Halloween in the Park will be "reimagined" as a one-day Fall Festival on Oct. 10, 2026, combining three experiences on the same date: a morning 5K, daytime family/Halloween activities and evening haunted-house attractions for young children.
Abenakyo said the consolidation reflects vendor scheduling limits — staff are working with a 5K vendor whose calendar dictated the date — and aims to streamline operations while preserving the child-focused elements residents value. "Three experiences, one day," she said during her presentation and asked board members to consider the trade-offs when planning hours and site logistics.
The events report highlighted recent programming and revenue: the Christmas Carnival drew about 3,500 attendees and roughly $7,000 in revenue; Gateway to the Globe (March 28) attracted about 2,500 attendees and generated roughly $3,000; and venue 1842 rental income increased heading into the spring season. Staff also noted new attractions piloted this year, including a snow slide and a drone "pyro" show, and that the venue continues to see strong wedding demand.
Board members pressed staff on whether the consolidated format would shortchange the traditional evening trick-or-treat experience. Abenakyo and other staff said the plan keeps a child-focused haunted-house time slot for littles and that the festival will end earlier in the evening than prior Halloween events to keep family schedules in mind.
Other items discussed in the events presentation: a proposed mom-and-son dance would be piloted by reallocating already-approved funds rather than requesting new money, and staff said they will return with more detailed calendars and dates in August. The board also noted state and county food-truck permitting requirements are increasingly onerous, complicating recruitment of vendors for large events.
The board asked staff to provide an event calendar with dates for the 2026 season and for staff to return with implementation details and any budget implications when they reconvene in August.
