Ghosts, goblins, superheroes and princesses looking for the Coosa Candy Crawl will need to visit the Wetumpka Sports Complex.
For the last three years, the growing event has been hosted by Main Street Wetumpka in downtown. But to accommodate more trick-or-treaters, more businesses and to make it safer the event was moved.
“It has gotten too large for downtown,” Main Street Wetumpka executive director Haley Greene said. “I think everyone will be happier with it at the sports complex and will be happier with the parking.”
Last year, an estimated 7,000 people attended the event in a matter of a couple of hours. It caused already limited parking to become an issue. The lots beyond downtown Wetumpka on Company Street and on South Main Street at the Wetumpka Civic Center were full.
“There were a large number of people who didn’t get to make it into downtown because of parking and traffic,” City of Wetumpka tourism manager Andrew Stieb said. “Everything in the area was so backed up.”
Visitors had to cross Main Street to get to downtown. People parked at the churches across the river and walked in. Unlike other large scale events in downtown Wetumpka that are all day, the Candy Crawl was just a couple hours complicating everything.
“One of the considerations is the safety portion,” Stieb said. “We want to be proactive rather than reactive. If we can be safe to start with, we are serving our citizens better.”
With downtown crowded with an overflow of pedestrians, an injury because of increased traffic was becoming more likely. There was also concern about getting emergency vehicles in and around downtown with all the extra traffic and pedestrians.
Moving the event to the sports complex gives the opportunity to expand it. There is a chance to add a carnival-like atmosphere to it and make it accessible for more people.
The candy crawl has been in downtown Wetumpka for the last three years. It was along the riverwalk prior to that.
“Moving back to there still would not alleviate the traffic and pedestrian issues,” Stieb said.
The candy crawl is planned for Monday, Oct. 28 and details surrounding it at the sports complex are still in the work.
Just because the candy crawl is leaving doesn’t mean there won’t be a Halloween themed event downtown. It will just be on a smaller scale. Main Street is planning Broomsticks & Brews from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 10.
“It is a spooktacular sip, shop and stroll event,” Greene said. “It will be more like our Galentine's event. Downtown businesses will have themed merchandise, sips and more.”
