Cedar Lee Kids' Candy Crawl is Oct. 24

Trick-or-treaters participate in the 2013 Candy Crawl on Lee Road. Photo by Shawn Paul Gustafson.

The fourth annual Cedar Lee Kid’s Candy Crawl will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, 5–8 p.m. Every year since the inaugural event in 2011, the number of children participating has doubled from the previous year. This year, organizers expect about 1,000 kids in costume to come trick-or-treating between the doors of the Cedar Lee Theatre and the Lee Road Library.

Each of the participating businesses will display an orange “Official Candy Crawl Stop” poster in its window.

"I created this event as a way for myself and the other merchants to give back to the families in our community," said Shawn Paul Gustafson, owner of Shawn Paul Salon. "After all, our fiercely locally minded community is the reason that all of us merchants are here and able to keep our doors open. It was also important to me that the children of the Heights get to experience a wonderfully magical night in the Cedar Lee."

Gustafson said that, as the event has grown, he has begun to think about the best way to keep it going. "That's why this year's event will be hosted by FutureHeights in partnership with the Cedar Lee Special Improvement District," he said. "Working together, these two organizations can ensure the future of this fabulous event for years to come."

Gustafson said he is looking forward to this year's Candy Crawl. "I'm thankful for every merchant that has opened their doors and pocketbooks to give out candy to the kids, and of course to every family who has taken their kids out, regardless of the weather, to celebrate this delightful holiday with us," said Gustafson. "This year's crawl is going to rock!"