Ballard Avenue shuts down to cars Thursday evening so costumed kids can have the street.
Boo on Ballard, Wylie's annual downtown trick-or-treat corridor, returns Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. along Historic Downtown Wylie. More than 80 vendors will line the route handing out free candy, according to the City of Wylie. Admission, parking and candy are all free, and no registration is required.
The setup is straightforward. The city closes Ballard Avenue to through traffic, and merchants set up at their doorways or just outside them. Families walk the length of the corridor collecting treats, according to The Wylie Times. Olde City Park, at 112 S. Ballard Ave., anchors the south end of the route and gives families green space between stops.
Three organizations put the event together: the Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, the City of Wylie and The Cross Church. Local merchants provide the candy stops along the trail. The city handles logistics and permitting. The Cross Church contributes organizational support and volunteers, the Wylie Times reported.
The two-hour window is sized for families with young children. Starting at 6 p.m. on an October evening means daylight will fade by the midpoint of the route, adding atmosphere without forcing parents to navigate a fully dark street with toddlers at the start.
Parking is available in lots and on side streets surrounding downtown. The walkable scale of the district means most of the trick-or-treat territory is accessible without crossing a major road.
New Hope Christian Church, at 1100 W. Brown St., plans to serve complimentary hot dogs, cotton candy and water at the event, according to a baselocal.com listing. Volunteers can help by grilling, spinning cotton candy or distributing water.
The City of Wylie's recreation department is also promoting a "Glow in the Park & Victorian Haunt" tied to the evening's festivities on Ballard Avenue.
