In the small town of Westminster, Massachusetts, Halloween is a big deal. As soon as it turns September 22nd and the first day of fall is marked, the decorations in all the local shops, Halloween-decorated houses, and fall items appear to mark this little town’s favorite holiday. In all the local shops, there is a transition from summer drinks and food to chai and pumpkin lattes, banana bread, and apple crisp. Word spreads around town like wildfire, and the fall spirit stands strong up until Halloween. Throughout this article, I am going to dive into how Westminster celebrates Halloween and the traditions that have been carried on for years.
To begin, every year on Halloween, Bacon St. and the surrounding streets deck out all the houses and give out loads of candy. There are posters, announcements, and even Facebook messages exchanged between native Westminster residents and other neighborhoods about the festivities in Westminster (especially on Bacon St). Additionally, each year on Halloween, the streets of Westminster are filled with people of all ages trick-or-treating and enjoying good company all night long.
While Bacon St. is one of the most popular streets to trick or treat on, other areas in Westminster are awesome as well! The main places where friends and family gather for Halloween are these well-known streets, and have been for years. It is always nice to see the familiar faces of neighbors handing out large amounts of candy because one thing about Westminster is that they always let you grab however much you want!
Another amazing thing that Westminster does on Halloween is a giant bonfire at the police station. This tradition has been going on every Halloween for years, and the only reason it doesn’t go on is if it is too windy, to avoid the scraps of wood and parts of the fire hurting civilians or nature, or if it is raining, because the fire will not last. Besides these few unfortunate circumstances, Westminster always has this bonfire. It is such a special experience every year after a long, cold night of trick or treating, heading over to the well-lit police station and meeting with friends and talking while watching the bonfire.
Next, every Halloween, there is a costume contest on the floor of the police station. People of all ages are welcome to participate, and there is usually a hefty cash prize for first, second, and third-place winners. Sometimes, if the people are feeling generous, they will go to even fourth or fifth places as well. Within the costume contest, all participants are instructed to walk or run in a large circle, surrounded by the judges and people supporting or observing the contest, while they show off their awesome store-bought or even homemade costumes. There is a lot of laughter and cheer for the participants, and it is always nice to see new faces in the contest, as well as previous winners who really outdo themselves each year. Furthermore, it is also awesome to see who the judges would pick as winners and how they react to the cash prize. Lastly, many people love watching the costume contest and standing around catching up with friends and family while sipping on the apple cider they hand out, and even the cinnamon donuts.
Halloween is a fantastic experience in Westminster. From the massive-sized candy bars, bonfires, and contests, the spirit of Halloween is definitely apparent in this town. While it may not have as creepy a vibe as Salem, Westminster definitely offers that hometown vibe for Halloween, and it is such a great place to spend your holiday!
