Halloween will bring pumpkins and parades to Downtown Troy this year.

With the change in date for Charles Henderson High School’s homecoming to Oct. 31 the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Downtown Committee decided to incorporate the annual parade with its Pumpkins on the Square event. Members of the group discussed plans at their monthly meeting on Wednesday.

“We can get the word out and advertise the parade along with the Pumpkins on the Square event at the same time,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves, explaining that both activities will draw people to downtown Troy.

The Pumpkins on the Square event will begin immediately after the homecoming parade. The starting time hasn’t been set for the parade, but committee organizers hope to begin the Pumpkins event between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

“Children will have the opportunity to come down to the Square and trick-or-treat around the Square with the businesses who are in the downtown area,” said Dianna Lee, marketing officer for Troy Bank & Trust and a member of the committee. “We also have several other businesses who aren’t located in downtown but are setting up booths and activities for the children. We expect it to be a terrific time for our community and partnering with the homecoming parade just makes it even more fun.”

Among the activities there will be a photo booth sponsored by The Messenger and a costume contest for participants.

“We’ll be releasing more details as we get closer to the event,” Lee said, “but we hope everyone will mark the date on their calendars. Any businesses who are interested in participating can contact the Chamber at 566-2294.”

In other business on Wednesday:

• Troy City Planning and Zoning Administrator Melissa Sanders said findings from a traffic study should arrive in the next month.

• Reeves discussed ideas with the committee about logos for the downtown water tower that is getting a new coat of paint. Reeves also gave an update on the roadwork being done on Three Notch Street.

“Three Notch is the oldest road in Troy,” he said. “We got in there and found some stuff we didn’t know existed. It’ll be a little bit longer, but hopefully I’d love to see it done at the end of the month. Hopefully, we are past all surprises on Three Notch.”

• Members discussed the Troy University Appreciation and Homecoming parade route, which will change this year. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, and the Square will be closed to vehicles during that time. A Downtown Tailgate is planned from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.