Fourteen downtown business are displaying the pages of a humorous children’s book in a Halloween-themed story stroll this month.
Dapper Ghost Studio is challenging the public to read, page by page, Ghosts in the House by author Kazuno Kohara in 14 downtown businesses Oct. 17-31 in what’s being called the Spooky Story Stroll. Dapper Ghost Studio is an art studio south of Okotoks owned and operated by Leah Koski and her daughters Shawna and Alyssa.
Participants start the stroll at 94 Take the Cake and read the book one page at a time. Pages will be at Lineham House Galleries, Mint + Maple, Loop Kids, Sweet Threads on Main, On Tap Oil & Vinegar, Unwind Wool Shop, A Very Delightful Boutique, An Honest Room, Tribal Connections Market, Monkey Mountain Toys & Games, Main Street Market & More and Home Ground Coffee & Espresso Bar.
Koski said the stroll ends at Mamie’s Treats with free cotton candy “poop” for those completing the activity.
“With COVID, we just really wanted to do something for the community that’s free that could just be a fun activity,” she said. “It’s about building community and bringing awareness to our businesses.”
With the drastic drop in temperature since early October, Koski said she’s noticed a reduction in people shopping in Okotoks’ downtown.
“On Saturday when we went driving downtown and we could just see that there’s not nearly as many people milling about,” she said.
Koski said Spooky Story Stroll is a way to rejuvenate Okotoks’ shopping core.
“One person that’s already gone through had posted that they saw a bunch of businesses they hadn’t seen before and they did a lot of their Christmas shopping already so that was really great to hear,” she said.
