For some, Halloween is a month-long celebration. They start getting excited the moment they see the telltale black and orange decorations gracing store shelves. If you are one of those people, you won’t want to miss this year’s Canalloween celebration!

This will be the fourth year of this huge Halloween celebration, tapping into the spooky and scary side of Halloween but also offering kid-friendly side.

This year’s Canalloween is similar to years past, starting with a road race ~ The Scary Monster Dash ~ followed by a Halloween parade, both of which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25. These events are perfect for all ages, and participants are encouraged to get in touch with their Halloween-loving side by dressing in costume and enjoying the festivities. The road race starts at 2 p.m., with a Kids Fun Run at 12:30 p.m., and the parade starts at 3 p.m.

If you are looking for a bit more over-21 fun in your Halloween celebration, you won’t be disappointed. The third segment of the celebration is the Halloween parties at the Canal District bars, making the celebration fit for a costumed older crowd, too!

Canalloween is the brainchild of the publisher of Pulse, Paul Giorgio, who said he hoped to tap into the growing love of Halloween and its boom in popularity within the holiday market. Gorgio said his personal favorite part of Halloween is trick or treating. “I get about 200 kids in my neighborhood. They bus them in because it is safe and welcoming,” Giorgio said. This idea of welcoming families and promoting the Halloween experience can be seen everywhere in the Canalloween event.

Giorgio added that the setting of the celebration was extremely important in ensuring the event was a hit. “The Canal District is a perfect venue because of the streetscape and the number of bars and restaurants,” Giorgio said. The Canal District, he said, fits the Halloween theme perfectly, thanks to the landscape of its streets and variety of old buildings, which can easily take on a spooky feel once the sun goes down.

This year, the start of the road race will be moved to the Worcester Common. However, Giorgio said, families can expect a similar celebration, and the race will still run through the Canal District. Giorgio hopes to get even more families involved in this year’s celebration, aiming for an even larger parade than in previous years.

Giorgio said he’d like to see the event grow each year. “The city wants us to expand to the Worcester Common, and that could happen next year,” he said.

With the city’s support, Gorgio said he feels that there is no stopping this event from growing into a signature event in Worcester, giving him and others involved high hopes for where the celebration may be headed in the future.

Someday, Giorgio said, he hopes the celebration with include, “A big parade and closing off Water Street for a large block party with outdoor music!”

Canalloween is sponsored by Wachusett Brewing Company, Shipyard, Samuel Adams, Coors Light, Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau, massvacation.com, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare, WCRN 830 AM, WXLO 104.5 FM, WORC-FM 98.9, 100 FMThe Pike and Pulse.

For more information, visit canalloween.com.

By Brianna MacMillan