Halloween in Hillsdale

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Halloween in Hillsdale

All across town, shops and schools are gearing up for Halloween. Restaurants are rolling out fall-themed specials, and stores are bringing in truckloads of candy, all for the holiday.

“When I’m done running candy, I hurt everywhere,” a Jonesville Walmart employee said.

Walmart imports approximately 60 pallets of candy in preparation for the Halloween season.

“The amount of candy in each pallet depends on what kind it is. For candy corn, you’re looking at about 800 pounds [per pallet].”

The amount of candy imported at Walmart will continue to increase through Halloween and Thanksgiving and peak before Christmas. Walmart was not able to release revenue numbers for their holiday sales, but candy prices range from 98 cents to $19.88 per package.

Hillsdale Community Schools hold a school-wide Halloween costume dance at Hillsdale High School on Saturday, Oct. 27. All grades in the Hillsdale Community School district are invited to the dance.

“All the schools participate, and all the staff dresses up and hands out candy [in the classrooms],” said Lisa Gonschorowski, a paraprofessional at Bailey Elementary School.

Hillsdale Academy takes a different approach to the Halloween season.

“We do not celebrate Halloween at the Academy. We do, however, have a school-wide Thanksgiving feast the Tuesday before Thanksgiving,” said administrative aide Pat Iszler.

Restaurants around Hillsdale are also bringing out specials and events that represent the fall season. Oakley Deli and Party Store said that they usually will do themed desserts and promotions in conjunction with holidays, but said that they were not sure what those will be, since it is usually a “last-minute decision.”

Finish Line Family restaurant also said that they will have fall-themed specials, but that they only decorate for the Christmas season.

Rick Tropiano, owner of Johnny T’s Bistro, said that they will roll out seasonal specials, such as pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin-spiced cappuccinos — all homemade from locally-grown ingredients. Tropiano also said that they will “spruce up” the inside of the building for the holiday.

“We really put a lot of time and effort into it,” he said.    

            ebrune@hillsdale.edu