Halloween can be fun, but it can also be scary. Not every Halloween event is designed to accommodate kids who have special needs, but there are starting to be more of them happening. The “trick” is to find them! Here is a list of upcoming Halloween events that are for children who have special needs.
On October 23, 2012, the Valley Church, which is located in West Des Moines, Iowa, will hold “The Great Pumpkin Party”. There will be more than one event, but the party designed for children who have special needs will happen on October 23. It will begin at 6:00 in the evening and end at 8:00 at night. Kids can wear their “non-scary” costumes. There will be giant inflatables, a show, games, and free ice cream.
On October 27, 2012, the Parkwood Farms Therapy Center , which is located in Snellville, Georgia, will host their biggest fundraiser of the year. It is a family-friendly Halloween party. The event will be sensory friendly. Most of the food will be gluten free and casein free. There will be a costume parade and costume contest, which will start at 5:00 in the evening.
Also on October 27, 2012, the City of Evanston, Illinois, will host a Bug-A-Boo Halloween Walk. It is a non-scary annual Halloween event that is hosted by the Evanston Ecology Center. The theme this year is “Alien Invaders”. It showcases plants and animals that are invasive to Evanston. There will be costumed characters outside to to meet. Families that want to attend need to pre-register for a specific start time. The fee is $5.00 per person.
On October 28, 2012, the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties, in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, will host a special needs Halloween Party. This event is being sponsored by the YMCA and by SNAP (Special Needs Advocacy parties).
The party will be held from 2:00 in the afternoon until 4:00 in the afternoon. There will be a DJ, dancing, face painting, crafts, a photo booth, and treats to eat. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Parents must remain at the party while their child is attending. This event is free of charge.
On October 30, 2012, there will be a special trick-or-treating event for kids who have food allergies. The event will happen in the Fox Point subdivision that is located in Barrington, Illinois. This allergen-free event is hosted by the Barrington Area Special Voices group. Volunteer houses will provide allergen-free treats from 5:30 in the evening until 7:30 at night.
Image by oatsy40 on Flickr