No Tricks and All Treats: Moms & More Halloween Stroll Celebrates 25 Years of Community Fun
Story by Maria G. O’Donnell
Photography submitted
The Halloween Stroll is back—and it’s celebrating its silver anniversary. Originated by the non-profit organization, Moms & More, the 25-year-old Stroll is their main event of the year and is open to members and non-members alike. This year’s event is on Sat., Oct. 24 from 10:30am- to 12:30pm. (Rain date is Sun., Oct. 25.)
In conjunction with West Hartford Center, Town Hall, and Blue Back Square (where the event will be held), Moms & More has run the event annually, and it’s grown to 5,000 participants and 50 local businesses and community groups, according to Melissa Klawans. She co-directs the volunteer-run group Moms & More along with Jess Sandretto. Klawans explained that storefronts and Town Hall will set up booths for this trick or treat event that features activities and giveaways, such as candy and toys. The group is working on getting a musical performance for the Stroll, as in the past.
Much like a block party, the Halloween Stroll is “a super popular event,” Klawans noted. “It’s a great way for kids to have a safe, structured environment – especially for the littles—it’s during the day, not night.”
Klawans said that the Stroll began 25 years ago, shortly after 9/11. “Halloween was canceled all over,” she said. The founder, West Hartford mom Leslie St. Amant, “approached the town, businesses, and West Hartford Center for a parade to bring back the normalcy to Halloween.”
Moms & More began to evolve from there. Klawans described its valuable beginnings where the community, families and parents collected area events, made a calendar of them, and started a newsletter. The group became popular, and membership dues were collected to go toward myriad events and programs.
Arriving in Connecticut 14 years ago and not knowing the area well, Klawans said, “after my older daughter was born, I was going stir crazy.” She needed adult company. “My mom encouraged me to look for a local group to meet other parents. My mom had joined a play group.”
Klawans found Moms & More on Google. “It’s important to have a community [when you have] little kids,” she said, having two young daughters, ages 4 and 2. “It’s a great group of people. It’s great to have local parents where you can ask, what’s the best park in the area? You can ask a real live person who’s done that. It’s super beneficial.”
“Tons of people are transplants,” Klawans explained, including from New York and Boston. They join Moms & More “for the exact reason I joined: for local families and community. It’s hard to make friends with little kids.”
Last fall, she became a co-director, and prior to that she ran the group’s book club. Outside of the Halloween Stroll’s public admittance, members-only events might focus on children-friendly places with subsidized ticket prices to My Gym, for example. There is no age limit for the kids, but the typical age goes up to elementary ages. Additionally, the group holds family events.
Adult activities are also provided, including fitness classes, a Mahjong group, and book club. Committee heads volunteer to run the activities. There’s also a Meal Train coordinator for anyone with hardship, and the group participates in community outreach, especially around the holidays. Moms & More also runs playgroups and does membership appreciation events for families, according to Klawans. The social media team coordinates the group’s public Facebook and Instagram, as well as two private Facebook groups.
With 500 members, 20 board members, and up to three co-directors at a time, Moms & More is all-volunteer. The membership dues help run events and technical infrastructure, Klawans said. Although the basic structure has been the same over the decades, she noted that things change over time and “events are based on the members we have,” and what’s popular among them.
Klawans noted that the group is trying to support local businesses, especially women-owned businesses, noting that many members have their own businesses. Though Moms & More is West Hartford-based, where most events are held, the group is open to surrounding towns. Members hail from Farmington, Newington, Bloomfield, and Avon.
For more information, how to become a member, or register for the Halloween Stroll as a business or community group, see the website: wehamoms.com. Use the Contact Us form to get in touch with the Moms & More co-directors. Klawans said that participants attending the Halloween Stroll don’t need to register and can “just show up,” as it’s open to the public at large. WHL
Moms & More Club of West Hartford
A membership community for parents and caretakers in Central Connecticut.
Whether you’re looking for activities for your child, ways to meet new friends, or community service opportunities, Moms & More is the place for you. Our yearly membership gives you access to our private Facebook group, regular events, meal trains, playgroups, and more—because no one should have to go it alone!
–Reprinted from wehamoms.com