A large downtown Halloween celebration brought broad merchant participation to Las Animas County this year, with 81 local businesses taking part in storefront trick-or-treating and a community costume contest. Organizers posted results on The Chronicle-News website, highlighting first-place winner Reina Espinoza, who competed dressed as a ballerina inside a jewelry box.

The event centrally targeted the county’s downtown commercial corridor and involved a mix of merchants working together to create a family-friendly evening of activity. The Chronicle-News page lists additional winners and organizers, although full access to the complete list requires a site login; the publicly visible highlights emphasized the depth of local engagement and the competitive costume entries.

For downtown businesses, coordinated events like this have a direct and measurable relevance. Bringing 81 merchants under a single promotional umbrella concentrates foot traffic in the core business district, increasing opportunities for incidental purchases at cafes, restaurants, and retail shops. In small counties such as Las Animas, where independent merchants form a large share of the retail landscape, seasonal events are a practical strategy to boost sales during key consumer moments and reinforce downtown as a community destination.

Beyond immediate economic effects, the Halloween event serves civic goals: it promotes social ties among residents, provides safe evening activities for children and families, and showcases the volunteer and organizational capacity of local civic groups. The event’s public listing of winners and organizers, even in summary form, signals local leaders’ interest in recognizing contributors and encouraging ongoing participation from merchants and volunteers.

The concentration of merchants also has planning implications for downtown management. Higher participation rates create short-term needs—such as crowd control, public restroom access, and spillover parking management—that municipal leaders and business associations must consider when scaling future events. Strategic investments in signage, lighting and traffic coordination can magnify the economic benefits of such gatherings and improve visitor experience.

Looking ahead, this year’s turnout provides a benchmark for future community programming. With 81 businesses participating, organizers and economic development stakeholders can analyze which elements most effectively drew shoppers and where capacity can be increased. As small downtowns across Colorado seek to sustain local commerce, replicable events that combine retail promotion with family-focused programming will likely remain a cornerstone of local recovery and resilience strategies.

The Chronicle-News coverage provides the event summary and winners list; additional details and the full roster of organizers and awardees are available on its site for subscribers.