In an idea floated a couple of weeks ago, Halloween has been "proclaimed" early by the Ketchum City Council, and it will be celebrated downtown on Saturday, Oct. 27, where it is expected Main Street will be closed for the party.
Councilman Ron Parsons launched the idea as a way to bring back Halloween celebrations of the 1970s and 1980s when Main Street was closed for costumed revelry. On Monday night, Oct. 1, Mayor Randy Hall proclaimed Oct. 27 the official day.
Ketchum businessman John Sofro, during Monday's meeting, asked the mayor to issue the proclamation because Halloween actually falls on a Wednesday. "Changing" it to Saturday, it "can become a weekend event for people in town and from out of town," Sofro said.
Sofro is working with the city Street Department to obtain a permit from the Idaho Department of Transportation to close state Highway 75 (Main Street) from Sun Valley Road to Second Street. Sofro, who organized previous Halloween parties at the nexStage Theatre, encouraged business owners to urge their employees to wear costumes for the event.
Tom Nickel, owner of The Roosevelt Tavern, said he was working with taxi companies to secure reduced or free taxi rides for revelers while also working to market the Ketchum party in Boise.
"I want to close Main Street every fourth Saturday. Why not?" asked Councilman Baird Gourlay. "It's just like Gallery Walk."
Hall appeared to like the idea.
"Let's do a little research on that," he said.
