Drive-through Freaky Friday is set for Oct. 30
With the continued risk of COVID-19, Farragut’s annual Freaky Friday Fright Nite will look a lot different this year, but Town staff has been working hard to ensure the event — a long-time celebrated holiday staple — will still take place.
Instead of in-person trick or treating at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, Freaky Friday Fright Nite will become a “drive-through” event from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30, along Jamestown Boulevard in front of Farragut Community Center.
Farragut Parks and Recreation director Sue Stuhl shared the alternative plan with the Town Board of Mayor and Aldermen Thursday, Sept. 10, which will relocate the event from Mayor Bob Leonard Park. BOMA approved the plan, and the request to close Jamestown Boulevard from 1 to 8 p.m. that day, unanimously.
“(We) looked at several options for holding the event in a similar format as in the past, but ultimately decided there was no way to keep the public safe and enforce physical distancing,” Stuhl said.
Her department researched what other parks and recreation departments were considering for fall/Halloween events, and decided on drive-through option was best, as it would allow staff “to control touch points yet still have something special for the children,” she explained.
The location was suggested “because of the convenience to the community center for event prep, (and also offering an) area for stacking waiting cars,” Stuhl reported.
“Additionally, the closure would not cause any hardship to residents or businesses,” she added, noting both Faith Lutheran and Farragut Presbyterian churches agreed to the Jamestown Boulevard road closure time frame.
If by chance the West Knox County Senior Center is open by that time, Stuhl said provisions have been made to allow until 4 p.m.
Parameters of the event will require that all participants register in advance for one of four specific time slots: 5 to 5:15 p.m.; 5:30 to 5:45 p.m.; 6 to 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Staff will be checking in registered participants at the corner of Jamestowne and Campbell Station Road. Entrance to the event only will be allowed via the southbound right lane on Campbell Station Road.
Parking for the participating businesses/organizations will be at the community center back parking lot or at Farragut Presbyterian Church.
“Participants will be asked to stay in their cars and drive through a lineup of no more than 20 stations along both sides of Jamestowne, from which volunteers will hand out candy or prizes,” Stuhl explained. “Just like past
Freaky Fridays, except the participants won’t be walking.
The participant car will be asked to pop open their trunks so that the candy can be put in there or, if that is not possible, the candy will be handed through an open window.
“Participants can also hang a bucket or bag on their side-view mirror for candy to be deposited. Once the car reaches the end of the stations, they can turn left on Village Green Parkway/Jamestowne to exit to Kingston Pike, or can turn right and wind through Village Green subdivision to Campbell Station Road via Old Colony.”
Registration may be accomplished by calling the community center during office hours: 865-218-3376. Stuhl said pre-registration worked well in July for the annual Bob Watt Fishing Rodeo.
Alderman Scott Meyer noted Freaky Friday Fright Nite “is one of my favorite events” and is something he is looking forward to. He also praised the “creative” Town staff for “coming up with a creative solutions to serve our residents in this middle of this ... pandemic.”
“It’s not ideal, but a lot of things are not ideal right now,” Aldermen Drew Burnette said. “I appreciate the extra work you have all done to make this happen for our Town.”
In other business, BOMA:
• Declared Sunday, Oct. 11, as Daughters of the American Revolution Day, and Sept. 17-23 as U.S. Constitution Week
• Passed on second reading Ordinances 20-09 and 20-16. The first, amending Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, Article 2, Beer, to amend the Class 4 Tavern Permit and creating the Class 7, Brewpub Permit. It expands tavern square footage up to 4,500 square feet and requires at least 20 percent of sales be from food. It defines Brewpub, and allows them to brew up to 2,500 gallons of beer annually, for the facilities not to exceed 6,500 square feet, and it also requires at least 20 percent of total sales to be food. The second ordinance permits Brewpubs in the Town’s commercial zoning districts.
• Approved on first reading Ordinance 20-13, rezoning 7.35 acres, between Turkey Creek Road and Inverness subdivision, from Rural Residential (R-1) to General Single-Family Residential (R-2);
• Approved on first reading Ordinance 20-12, to rezone the property at 11824 Kingston Pike, 1.81 Acres along Federal Boulevard, from Office (O-1) to General Single-Family Residential (R-2);
• Approved on first reading an amendment to the Town’s Tree Protection ordinance as it relates to provisions for utilities, helping ensure better protection for trees in the Towns’ right-of-way;
• Approved the following appointments to the Town’s Education Relations Committee: Amanda Kincaid will represent Farragut Primary School, Wendy Stiles will represent Farragut Intermediate School, Beth Duncan will represent Farragut Middle School and Mary Nussbaum will represent Farragut High School. Vice Mayor Louise Povlin, who is helping guide the ERC during a transitional year of membership, said she is hoping to have representation from Farragut’s private schools in the future
as well.
