Top Story of the Year: Hockessin Business Association continues success with fourth annual Halloween in Hockessin

One of the Hockessin Community News' top stories of the year involves a local Halloween event that continues to grow and shine brighter each year.

What happened

The community response to the Hockessin Business Association's fourth annual Halloween in Hockessin event last fall (held Oct. 28 from 11-4 p.m.) was incredible, as 300-plus costumed kids, and some costumed adults, trick-or-treated on the sidewalks of Hockessin, collecting candy from 37 of the areas businesses.

The number of trick-or-treaters is triple that of Halloween in Hockessin's inaugural event, said Charles Shattuck, event chair of the Hockessin Business Association, as well as owner of Wild Birds Unlimited on Lancaster Pike. In addition, the 37 participating stores were the most to date, besting 2011's 28 merchant participants.

The impact

Halloween in Hockessin is an opportunity for local business to show its gratitude to the community, ensuring that families living in neighborhoods that don't host trick-or-treating are able to do so in a safe environment. The event is also an opportunity for businesses to introduce themselves to potential first-time customers.

"Just getting someone to walk in your door can make them a customer for life," said Shattuck, 52, of Kennett Square.

What's next?

For the fifth annual Halloween in Hockessin event, the HBA will continue to host early trick-or-treating on the afternoon of the last Saturday before Halloween. In addition, the HBA would like to team up with the Hockessin Pet Hospital and throw a Halloween pet parade on the following Sunday, Shattuck said. The idea of the parade is for families to don themselves and their pets in costume.

Details of the event haven't been finalized, but Shattuck is confident the fifth annual Halloween in Hockessin "is going to be even grander."