Thousands of costumed Halloween enthusiasts will walk the streets in downtown Ashland and seek out sweet treats from local businesses during the annual Children’s Halloween Celebration.

The event, organized by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, involves a parade, trick-or-treating at different storefronts around Ashland and performances.

“It’s one of Ashland’s most beloved events,” said Dana Preston, membership and business development director for the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. “Really, what the Children’s Halloween Celebration and parade is, is a celebration of community and a procession.”

The event is scheduled to start around 3:30 p.m. and wrap up between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

Attendees meet at the Ashland Public Library — located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. — before the parade begins.

“We know a lot of kids participate with families as well, but really the (Ashland) Middle School band starts and sets the pace of the parade,” Preston said. “The goal is to create an event where kids are celebrated and prioritized.”

The Children’s Halloween Celebration has been a central community event in Ashland for more than three decades. It draws out 3,000 to 4,000 attendees when the weather is nice, according to organizers.

“Thousands of community members show up to the library and really everyone participates and files in and walks down the street behind the (Ashland Middle School) band,” Preston said. “There are no floats, no vehicles, no entries; anyone who wants to participate in a family-friendly manner can make their way down.”

The parade will start at the library, proceed down East Main Street and end at the Plaza in downtown Ashland.

After the parade wraps up, kids and families are invited to go trick-or-treating at many of the downtown businesses. Participating stores will have an orange pumpkin in their display windows.

“We have a samba band that comes in towards the end and plays,” Preston said of local group Rogue Samba.

With Ashland’s reputation as a hub for creatives in the region, many of the attendees go all-out with their Halloween costumes.

“It’s incredible and awesome how creative the community gets,” Preston said.

Organizers are working with the Ashland Police Department to ensure safety while closing down multiple downtown streets in the city.

“We’re so grateful to work closely with the Ashland Police Department for streets and the city … we have such a great connection with the police, very much so to support closing down the roads and community safety,” Preston said.

The intent of the Children’s Halloween Celebration is to have a kid-centered event for the youth of the Rogue Valley.

“It’s something the (Ashland) Chamber does, because there are a lot of opportunities for adults during Halloween,” she said. “We do this for the kids.”

“This is an iconic Ashland event, and it brings people out for a lot of fun,” Preston added.

The Ashland Chamber of Commerce organizes multiple events throughout the year such as the Festival of Light, 4th of July Parade and Celebration, Ashland Mystery Festival, and more.

To learn more about the Ashland Chamber, including upcoming events, see ashlandchamber.com.