Most of Vermilion pushing up Trick-or-Treat

Halloween falls on a Friday this year.
Erath and Gueydan are expected to be the only two communities to see costumed youngsters on the streets on Oct. 31.
Kids in Abbeville, Kaplan, and Maurice will be able to get a head start on gathering up candy, as those communities have moved Trick-or-Treating hours up to Thursday, Oct. 30. The Vermilion Parish Police Jury is expected to make a decision on Monday.
Officials in the Village of Maurice announced the change this week that it is one of the areas that will see Trick-or-Treaters on Thursday. The village is following a similar step voted on earlier this year by the city councils in Abbeville and Kaplan.
Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot said the move is in part to honor a request made by North Vermilion High School. The Patriots will play host to Notre Dame on Oct. 31.
“It is their final home football game,” Theriot said. “That is going to be senior night. They are also going to have all the little kids who participated in their cheer and dance clinic perform that night. There is going to be a lot of activity surrounding the game that night, so I can see how that would be an appropriate reason to change the days.
“It will allow the children in Maurice to be able to do both, Trick-or-Treat and then still go to the game.”
Football played somewhat into the decision for the changes in Abbeville and Kaplan. The two rival high schools will square off on Friday, Oct. 31. The Wildcats and Pirates play each year for right to bring home the Russo Trophy.
The Abbeville Council also based its vote to change at the request of the Vermilion Parish Library in Abbeville. The library holds its annual “Scare on the Square” on Oct. 31. That it falls on a Friday this year, the library would be holding the event at the same time as crews set up for the Giant Omelette Celebration, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 1. Officials with the library made the request to the council to change to Thursday.
Theriot said he feels comfortable with the reasons for Maurice’s change.
“There is a strong connection between the school and the community,” Theriot said. “We try to be very community oriented, and the school is a big part of that.
“We want people to be able to have the opportunity to take part in the events of both days.”