An estimated 2,000 trick-or-treaters will receive candy from at least 30 different downtown vendors at the annual Halloween Main-ia, Winchester First Director Tim Janes said.
The annual event is a Halloween tradition in Winchester. Main Street is closed to traffic and opened to trick-or-treaters, who stock up on candy from local businesses.
All downtown businesses are invited to participate, and the event is free to the community.
“The vast majority of downtown businesses take part,” Janes said.
Trick-or-treating will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.
In addition to the candy and costumes, there will be entertainment for adults and teens. The Calvary Christian Church will perform Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” routine for the second year. Rehearsals for the flash mob begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church and youth groups and school clubs and organizations are invited to participate, Calvary Christian youth minister Steve Crosby said.
“It’s easy to learn. If I can do it, anybody can,” Crosby said.
At the 2011 Halloween Main-ia, Crosby said he was expecting 40-50 youth to participate, and ended up with 100 flash mobbers.
Crosby decided to try the flash mob with the Calvary youth after attending a conference for youth ministers.
“People were sharing crazy things they had done with their youth, and someone said, ‘Flash mob,’” Crosby said.
Because his two daughters are dancers, Crosby said the idea clicked with him and he started planning the “Thriller” mob.
The public responded well to the addition to the annual Halloween event, Crosby said.
“They seemed to really like it,” he said.
The flash mob also gives older kids and teens who no longer trick-or-treat an opportunity to participate in the community event. When not performing, the flash mobbers will pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Crosby said he hopes to perform the routine a few more times this year, about once every 20 minutes.
“It would be a lot of fun to have 300, 400 kids out there on Main Street,” Crosby said.
