Get your costumes ready for a dress rehearsal — Halloween in the Haymarket is back this year.
The annual event will take place Wednesday, October 23, from 5-7:30 p.m., shutting down Canopy Street, the Railyard, and Iron Horse Park for a family-friendly, free trick-or-treat party filled with candy, booths, and costumed fun.
“It’s like your traditional trunk-or-treat, but instead of cars, many of our downtown businesses get to introduce themselves to the public and hand out candy,” said Maggie Pickrel-Smith, Director of Events & Outreach for the Downtown Lincoln Association. “We have lots of free activities for families like caricature artists, face painters, balloon artists, and then we do a big dance party in the Railyard. It’s just a lot of fun.”
Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, and while there won’t be a costume contest this year, Pickrel-Smith says kids can still join in the fun with a monster drawing contest. Entries will be showcased on the Railyard’s massive screen, “The Cube,” and the artist with the most votes will win a $50 Downtown Lincoln gift card, redeemable at dozens of local businesses.
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) advises that portions of two downtown streets will close from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday for the event:
- Canopy Street between “R” and “P” streets
- “Q” Street between Canopy and Seventh streets
Travelers are encouraged to seek an alternate route and exercise caution around these closures. For more information on street closures, visit lincoln.ne.gov/closures.