Southcentre Mall opened its doors early on Sunday to offer a sensory Halloween event for children with special needs.

The mall has partnered with Autism Calgary since 2014 to offer seasonal sensory events.

Tracy Mendoza, community and events coordinator for the organization, expressed her gratitude to Southcentre Mall. The mall dimmed the lights, turned off its music and welcomed families before normal mall hours on Sunday.

The shopping center also welcomed sensory-friendly children over Christmas and Easter.

“All of our sensory events with Southcentre Mall are staggered into time slots so they can come and have a good experience before moving on to the next station,” Mendoza said. “There are five stations in total here at the mall, all on the lower level where they can play a game and then trick or treat.

“Autism Calgary is so grateful to any community or organization that welcomes us and helps our children have a great experience and we are truly grateful for that, especially Southcentre Mall.

“Today is about helping people with sensory sensitivities, no matter your age,” she said. “It’s not just autism, but it’s very common in autism, so people with sensory sensitivities can experience Halloween and go trick-or-treating without the challenges you would experience at a center commercial at a normal time, or even on the street, in a community, (or) going door to door.

With files from CTV’s Tyson Fedor