Tapley's Farm is gearing up to welcome the whole community back to Easy Street this Halloween.
The free, family-friendly event has been a Whistler tradition since 1983, but was scaled back last year to accommodate neighbourhood kids only amid the COVID- 19 pandemic. Now, it’s back to business as usual for Tapley’s Farm Halloween’s 38th iteration.
In 2020, “Vancouver Coastal Health didn’t want too many people—like, hundreds of people—walking around, so we just had locals and no fireworks. This year we’re back on track, [and VCH has] given us the OK,” said Amanda Wilson, who has taken over co-organizing duties alongside Shauna Hardy Mishaw.
Approximately 40 families are participating, Wilson said. “They go all out with the decorations, and there are usually a couple of live bands—we never know what people are going to do,” she added. On Oct. 31, Easy Street, Toad Hollow, Corral Place and Balsam Way will be closed to traffic beginning at 4 p.m., with trick- or-treating starting at 5:30 p.m. Those attending from other neighbourhoods can take advantage of free parking from 5 to 9 p.m. in Marketplace, while the “Park and Spook” shuttle—organized by BC Transit
and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW)—will run between Marketplace and Tapley’s Farm from 5:15 to 8:25 p.m. Local high school students will also host a canned food drive at the neighbourhood’s entrance, with trick-or-treaters encouraged to bring non-perishable or cash donations for the Whistler Food Bank.
As usual, the Whistler Fire Department will be on hand to set off fireworks from Myrtle Philip Community School’s lower playing field beginning at 7:30 p.m. Being one of the families in charge of treat- providing for most of the town, however, doesn’t come cheap: Those interested in donating are encouraged to drop a few sweet contributions into the candy donation boxes currently set up at a variety of schools, day-cares and grocery stores around town.
Though the celebrations are geared toward families, Wilson also clarified that Halloween revellers without kids in tow are more than welcome to join in the fun. “It’s nice to still look around at all the different houses and how they decorate, and come watch fireworks and hang out,” she said.
