Halloween Drive Through Opens At Stews Leonard's In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Customers at Stew Leonard's in Norwalk will be in for a family-friendly spooky treat this month as the store's Halloween Drive Through display makes its return.

On Friday, the store's farm-themed Harvest Drive Through, which had been set up since Sept. 17, transformed into a display featuring inflatable pumpkins, a spooky tunnel of spiders and a number of Halloween cartoon characters.

The free drive through display, located on the right end of the parking lot, is just steps away from Stew's pumpkin patch.

As customers drive through the display, they can also tune their car's radio to a special station where store mascot Clover the Cow will play a spooky Halloween soundtrack to accompany the experience and delight kids of all ages.

According to Director of Public Relations Meghan Bell, the idea for the drive through was thought up last year by owner Stew Leonard Jr. and his store managers in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

"We've had to bob and weave so much during [the coronavirus crisis]," Bell said, "and the Halloween Drive Through was a safe but fun way for customers to celebrate the holiday with their families."

Prior to 2020, the store typically operated a haunted hayride in a small garage under the parking lot during the month of October.

Bell said the store has been slowly bringing back some elements of Stew Leonard's that were temporarily paused last year, including offering a limited number of free samples throughout the store.

As these elements are slowly brought back, the store's management has made a conscious effort not to return everything to "normal" just yet, Bell said.

"The Halloween Drive Thru was such a success with families last year," Bell said, "that not only did the Leonard family decide to bring it back, they started the event even earlier with a harvest-themed drive through [in September]."

According to Les Slater, the store's vice president, setting up the Harvest Drive Through took about three days, while transforming it into the Halloween took only about day.

Store Director Nicole Weiss said a dozen additional blow-ups were added to the display this year, as well as few more extra details.

External music has also been added to the display, allowing customers to simply roll their car windows down to hear the music.

"Obviously it's a lot more impressive at night with the lights and everything," Slater said.

The drive through is open through Halloween from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Weiss also teased that customers should "stay tuned for Christmas."

The store prides itself on providing fun displays and activities for families to enjoy at special times of the year, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving.

During the holiday season, the store typically opens a Christmas-themed shop in its garden center and hosts both a Christmas tree and menorah lighting event.

"Stew Leonard's has a long history of offering family-friendly events," Bell said. "It's part of what makes us such a great place to shop and to work."

Families looking for additional family fun at the Stew Leonard's, located on Westport Avenue, can bring their children under the age of 12 in their Halloween costume to the store anytime between Oct. 29 and 31 to receive a free ice cream cone.

On Oct. 27, children up to 8 years old are invited to dress in costume and trick-or-treat at the store, during which clear goodie bags will be given to children to collect candy as they visit stations throughout the store. Costumed characters will also be available to take socially distanced photos with children during the event.

Due to a high level of interest from shoppers, the store will offer free tickets to the event for 225 kids. Masks are required during the event, which will have timed entry to ensure the store does not become overcrowded for the safety and comfort of customers.

Families can register for free tickets here.