It’s trick or treat time in downtown Amherst — with plenty of comic books, collectibles and geeky pop culture fun just around the corner.
In 2021, Amherst residents Alan and Stephanie Thompson and Chuck Daughtery decided to join forces with businesses in downtown Amherst to spruce up Halloween in the area. Their Lorain County Comic Show and Food Drive was the first attraction with trick-or-treaters invited to visit the businesses.
It was a popular hit, and they are hoping for the same on Oct. 28.
The comic book show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 255 Park Avenue in Amherst. Trick or treat is from 4 to 5 p.m. The more than 10 vendors at the show will be passing out candy as well. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for those bringing food donations only.
Among other vendors are Eric Anderson of Comics Are Go in Sheffield and Jamie Stewart of Phat Daddy’s Comic’s and Collectibles in Amherst.
According to Daugherty and Thompson, the show will feature “tens of thousands of comic books, collectibles and prizes.” Items there will vary from expensive collector comics to affordable ones.
Admission is free but to be eligible for the items to be raffled, a non-perishable food item is required. The more food items, the more tickets a person gets. Parking is also free.
The first food drive for the first Lorain County Comic Show in 2019 collected enough items to feed more than 1,000 meals, according to the Thompsons. The 2020 show was cancelled because of COVID-19 but it came back in a big way in 2021 as enough food was donated to provide more than 15,000 meals.
Thompson and Daugherty originally began the Lorain County Comic Show in Amherst during the spring but moved it to Halloween to try something different and continue the food drive to benefit the community.
On Oct. 28, the weather forecast could not be better for this time of the year. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s with little to no threat of rain.
Downtown Amherst features several restaurants, boutiques, a single-screen movie theater with discounted ticket prices and a bowling alley.
