It’s the biggest weekend of the year in the self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World.
No, it’s not anywhere in Transylvania, and it’s own Elm Street may not be the reason, but Anoka has called itself that for more than 100 years.
The story started in 1920, when Halloween Committee Member Linda Evavold said residents woke up and were sick of the town’s children getting up to shenanigans on Halloween.
“Anokans woke to their cows roaming on Main Street, their windows soaped, and their outhouses tipped over,” said Evavold. “They decided something had to be done.”
What resulted were parades, haunted houses, and decorated yard tours. The main events are the Parades of Little People (school children) and the Grand Parade, which is scheduled this year for Saturday, October 29 at 1:00 p.m.
“This is really the icing on the cake,” said Evavold. “This is what we plan for all year long.”
Evavold also helps run the pop-up Halloween Gift Store on 2nd Avenue near Main Street, where customers can buy souvenir clothing, hats, the popular annual pins, and share pictures on a communal picture board.
“This is some of the big memories that people have given us over the years, some of their fond memories of growing up in Anoka or just coming into town for the parades.”
For a list of the events for this Halloween weekend, click here.