Is Lexington going to be the Grinch that stole Halloween? Amid much debate, Trick or Treat in Lexington for 2015 is still scheduled for Saturday, October 31.
October 31 will be a busy day in Lexington, with the running of the Breeders’ Cup championships at Keeneland, and a UK home football game at Commonwealth Stadium. Both events are expected to tax area traffic and resources.
A petition has been circulated via GoPetition, that reads:
“Halloween occurs on October 31st, 2015. That is the same day that Keeneland will be hosting the biggest day of the Breeder’s Cup for the first time which is a major event for Lexington. There is also a UK Football game that day.
With two major events already scheduled for October 31st adding a 3rd major event like Halloween would stretch city resources such as police even further, increase pedestrian and vehicle traffic in these congested areas causing more congestion and potentially even dangerous situations and potentially discourage adults from participating in Breeder’s Cup and UK Football game which are major economic drivers for our community.”
The petition has currently gained more than 600 signatures.
In response, a petition has surfaced on change.org to “Leave Halloween [on] October 31, 2015 Lexington, KY.”
One petition supporter wrote, “Halloween is on Oct. 31st always has and always will be I don’t care about no football nor about a horse only that my kids want to trick or treat on Halloween.”
Another weighed in from Cincinnati, “I don’t even live in Lexington but I feel that Halloween should be left alone.”
Lexington Fayette Urban County Council has been asked to reschedule Trick or Treating in the past to accommodate home games and other events. In recent years, it has denied all requests to reschedule, except for weather-related emergencies.
Click here for a Halloween 2015 Calendar of events in Lexington.
Update: The city has announced that they are working with Fayette Mall for an additional indoor Trick or Treating date. City spokesperson Susan Straub says, “Lexington Police and Parks and Recreation have partnered with the Mall to offer trick-or-treating inside the Mall from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29. Traditional outdoor trick-or-treating will go forward from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 31. Police and city traffic engineers have said safety concerns will be similar Thursday through Saturday.”
Update II:Â Trick or Treat is also 6-8 p.m. on October 31 in Georgetown, Winchester, Nicholasville, Richmond and Versailles. Paris’ Trick or Treat is 5-7 p.m. on Main Street and 5-7:30 p.m. in residential areas on Halloween.
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