CAMDEN—For the last decade, the residents of Camden and Pearl Street organizers have put together candy drives and a spooktacular presence for Halloween, drawing approximately 1,000 parents and kids from neighboring towns to come trick-or-treating, as PenBay Pilot reporters have covered over the years in galleries such as this and this.

Last October 2020, the COVID-19 virus put the organizers in a tough position and they had to cancel the annual tradition for practical reasons as the state had still been under a Stage 4 plan of physical distancing to reduce possible viral infections at a time when vaccinations were still not available. 

In a press release sent to PenBayPilot October 2020, the organizers explained: “Sadly, we are not going to be having trick-or-treating as usual on Pearl Street, in Camden. We’ve talked with the Select Board and everyone is in agreement that there is no safe way to do it.”

According to an anonymous source, what the organizers did not expect is the degree of vitriolic backlash online because certain citizens weren’t able to come trick-or-treating in Camden.

This year, said the source, “If you can walk from home reasonably that seems to be what they’re OK with. Keep it in the neighborhood. There are several homes with people in their 80s and 90s and they don’t want to risk anything. They want it to be what it would be if there were no cars. Maybe 50 to 100 kids as opposed to 800 to 1000.”

Other streets in Camden will be open.

Police Chief Randy Gagne reiterated: “The Camden Police Department will NOT be closing any streets in Camden for Halloween. Officers will be on patrol throughout the Town. We urge all those participants take all safety precautions.”

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com