Main Street Program Director Amy Rosenthal said the cancellation came about by the city responding to changing needs. With the event growing and attracting new visitors, it affected the businesses involved in the event, she said.
“In recent years, we’ve received lots of feedback from merchants about the impacts of street closures, and the challenge of providing treats to growing crowds,” she said in an email.
In addition, the timing of the Scare on the Square event did not always provide working parents the best opportunity to bring their children, Rosenthal said. The city had also received feedback that hosting Scare on the Square competed with neighborhood activities Oct. 31, she said.
“With support from various departments at the City of McKinney and McKinney Main Street board members, the decision was made to discontinue promotions and organized activities for ‘Scare on the Square,’” she said in the email.
The city’s annual Trick or Treat Trail event was held Oct. 26 at Towne Lake in McKinney. Rosenthal said the Trick or Treat Trail is able to offer the community a way to celebrate Halloween that does not conflict with neighborhood trick-or-treating and is held in a better location that includes more activities.
