Abby Hoover
Managing Editor

Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood has once again cancelled its annual Scare-It Halloween festivities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very disappointed to announce the SRNA Board has voted to postpone this event this year due to the ongoing health and safety concerns of COVID-19 and the new variants,” the neighborhood association announced on August 18. “We have a duty to make sure we aren’t putting anyone in harm’s way and this is for the best.”

For 27 years, Scarritt has partnered with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF), and the Kansas City Museum to host a car-free evening of trick-or-treating down one of Kansas City’s oldest historic streets.

In years prior, Gladstone Boulevard has been closed for eight blocks on Halloween night as homes are transformed into haunted houses while performers, music, food trucks and neighbors in costume line the street.

“Scare-It Halloween is free and open to everyone, but our mission started as and continues to be us providing a safe place for inner-city youth and families to enjoy a tradition,” the event’s organizers said.

In the meantime, the association hosted a virtual fundraising for next year’s event. Would-be attendees could enter to win a pair of VIP or general admission tickets to this year’s Kansas City Museum Derby Party, two wine country gift baskets, or a private in-house chef experience for eight people. Event organizers are hoping to reach their goal of $5,000.

While Halloween festivities have been put on hold, the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society (NEKCHS) announced August 19 that the ninth annual Historic Homes Tour will return on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood. The tour was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

They will feature homes on Gladstone and Benton boulevards, all within walking distance. The hospitality canopy will be at 315 Gladstone Blvd., where attendees will pick up tickets, enter the raffle, and shop NEKCHS merchandise.

Tickets for the tour are $15 for members and $18 for non-members. The raffle this year will be a one-of-a-kind “Time for Dinner” room box created and donated by Northeast native and miniaturist, Sandy Collins Walker. All proceeds go to the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society. Raffle tickets are available in advance 3 for $5 and 7 for $10.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made recommendations for fall and winter holiday celebrations, found at cdc.gov.