WILTON — The Wilton Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously on Tuesday, Oct. 3, to move this year’s Halloween event to Kineowatha Park. Renee Woodard, of the Recreation Committee, asked the Select Board to close off parts of High Street to vehicles for the event, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Previously, Wilton’s Halloween event had been hosted in downtown Wilton, where locals stayed in their vehicles and traveled along Main Street receiving candy in the form of a Trunk-or-Treat from community members parked along the road. This event was suggested by former Chief of Police Heidi Wilcox during the COVID-19 pandemic, Woodard said.

Woodard, along with interim Chief of Police Ethan Kyes, has been looking into bringing back the same type of event Wilton used to host prior to the  pandemic. The Halloween event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Kinewatha Park, with the Wilton Police Department monitoring foot traffic.

Woodard requested the Select Board close off High Street from Weld Road to the Municipal Parking lot during the time of the event. In a phone interview with the Livermore Falls Advertiser, Woodard added that High Street would also be open to trick-or-treating, with houses that are interested in participating marking their homes for trick-or-treaters.

Woodard reached out to the community on Facebook, asking for anyone interested in participating in the Trunk or Treat event by decorating a vehicle or easy up tent inside Kineowatha Park to contact her either by email at eventscoordinator@wiltonmaine.org or by phone at [207] 645-3120.

Woodard also asked for monetary donations specifically for the purchase of candy for this event.

At the same meeting, Woodard also asked on behalf of the Wilton Group, consisting of local business owners such as Vera’s Iron and Vine and Mainestone Jewelry, for a fall event taking place on Saturday, Oct. 14, in downtown Wilton.

According to Woodard, the group would be hosting fall activities such as pumpkin painting and apple cider pressing. A raffle will also take place at the event, with tickets available for purchase at the event. Prizes for the raffle will be donated to the group prior to the event.

Woodard requested the Select Board close off access to the area in downtown Wilton surrounding the Civil War monument. High Street and Main Street would remain open. Selectperson David Leavitt asked if the local shop owners had been asked to use their parking lot for the event.

Woodard stated that she had gotten permission from James Butler, owner of 280 Main Street, but had not heard back from the owners of Calzolaio Pasta Co. The Board of Selectpersons voted to close off the section of parking lot and allow the event contingent on the response from Calzolaio Pasta Co. Woodard confirmed the event on Monday, Oct. 9.

The event will also coincide with the Second Saturday event that is hosted monthly by local shops Vera’s Iron and Vine, October Moon Creations, Nicki Lynn’s Reclaimed Furniture & Decor, and Fiber Crafter’s Cave.