Carrying the Halloween Parade forward
The Halloween Parade in Maple Leaf started the same way many good things do.
With one neighbor who cared enough to make it happen.
For years, a single neighbor organized the parade, coordinated with local businesses, and made sure families had a place to gather each fall. Over time, as that person stepped away, the Maple Leaf Community Council gradually stepped in to help keep the tradition going. What began as simply showing up with hot cocoa eventually grew into the council becoming the main host of the event.
That transition wasn’t about taking something over. It was about making sure a beloved neighborhood tradition didn’t disappear.
When Stefan and other volunteers stepped in to take on the Halloween Parade, they put real thought into how it could evolve. Together, they reconsidered the route with children in mind, while also expanding the event to feel welcoming for dogs and adults. They worked to involve more local businesses, from music and bands at the start of the parade to shops and restaurants participating along the route.
Today, the Halloween Parade brings out around 700 neighbors each year, rain or shine. People come to walk together, collect candy, talk with local businesses, and catch up with neighbors they may not have seen in a while. It’s joyful, easygoing, and one of the clearest examples of how shared stewardship can help a tradition thrive.
This is also one of the lighter ways to get involved with the Maple Leaf Community Council. Planning typically kicks off in late August or September, and the work is intentionally manageable. For many neighbors, it’s an easy entry point into helping with events and getting to know others along the way.
At the same time, events like the Halloween Parade only continue because neighbors value them enough to support the work behind the scenes. As the council takes on more responsibility for events across the neighborhood, membership support helps make that possible.
Only about 4–5% of Maple Leaf neighbors currently support the council financially. Our goal is to grow that to 10% by the end of 2026, so we can continue supporting traditions like this and say yes to more ideas in the future.
Did you know?
For just $3 a month, becoming a member helps ensure the Maple Leaf Community Council can continue supporting neighborhood traditions like the Halloween Parade and create space for new ones to grow.