On Oct.29 the Downtown Merchants will host a "Mardi Gross" Trick or Treat event that's free and open to children from Tots to Ten.  From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. volunteers will dispense candy along Grand, Leavenworth, and Bank Streets.  A haunted alley along the way will be constructed at The Exchange between Dreschers and CVS and will feature a hay maze, a Waterbury Fire Truck, a haunted graveyard, and the 54th Regiment Drill Team.

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. a hayride will take on passengers in front of The Connecticut Store on Bank St. and there'll be door prizes for the participating families.  At 6:30 p.m. there will be a costume parade.

Youngsters aged 11 - 14 will be able to bring down carved pumpkins for judging.

Other activities that day include a booksigning at noon at The John Bale Book Company.  Author and one-time Waterbury resident John Mangiapane will sign copies of his book It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy. 

Following the Trick or Treat event, the area bars and cafes will be open for an extended evening of costumed fun for the older crowd.