Three states in to the 50 state local news and newspaper round-up I am lad to find a newspaper leading with a Halloween Story.
Sierra Vista Herald | The Bisbee Daily Review
First-time SV Halloween event has cast of characters
By Derek Jordan
Herald/ReviewPublished on Saturday, November 01, 2008
SIERRA VISTA — The ghouls and ghosts were out in full force Friday night as hundreds celebrated Halloween at Veterans’ Memorial Park.On the cool autumn evening, trick-or-treaters of all ages came to play games, watch a movie and, of course, get all the candy they could stuff into their plastic pumpkin buckets at the Halloween Fall Festival.
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Four-year-old Christopher Paige reacts as he participates in Friday’s ghoulish good times at Veterans’ Memorial Park. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)(Use arrows above to view more photos)
Though well-lit by floodlights, the spooky spirit of the holiday was in full effect thanks to set-ups such as haystacks topped with jack-o’-lanterns, a miniature haunted cemetery complete with fog machine, and countless costumed children.From Indiana Jones and Snow White, to Freddy Krueger and Dr. Frank-N-Furter, there was a multitude of tastes on display. As far as small children went, there were enough superheroes to have a comic book convention.
Iron Man and pirates seemed to be the biggest hits with the youngest crowd, while the teenagers stuck with slasher film icons like Jason Voorhees. And while there were a few court jesters hanging around, there seemed to be only one Joker on hand.
Those who weren’t in line to try their luck at knocking over a stack of milk bottles or play ring toss for candy could watch “Scooby Doo 2” being projected on a large screen or take a break from trick-or-treating and jump around in the inflatable jumping castle.
Accompanied by his parents and aunt, Nicolas Spain, 3, dressed up in his green dinosaur costume, had his mind-set one thing despite all of the attractions.
“I’m here getting candy at the park,” he said, working a Tootsie Roll over in his mouth.
“What part did you like best?” his father, Pete, asked him. “Was it the jumping castle?”
With barely a pause, Nicolas said, “No, it was eating candy.”
If visitors needed a break from trick-or-treating at the various vendors stands spread around the park, there were other things to see.
Those looking for a less secular celebration needed to only cross the pavement in front of the band shell, where the Salvation Army was co-hosting a Harvest Festival, which had games, coloring tables and a booth advertising that it could tell someone if they were going to heaven in only two questions.
The Cove Aquatic Center hosted a haunted house for a $3 entry fee. A few bucks more would pay for a few hours of night swimming as well. It proved a popular draw, with people lined up throughout the night waiting to get in, sometimes for up to 45 minutes or more.
Visitors seemed happy with the three-hour event. Kim Cossette, Nicolas’ aunt, said she liked watching the children have fun.
“I just enjoy seeing all the kids,” she said. “They did a really good job with this.”
Herald/Review reporter Derek Jordan can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at derek.jordan@svherald.com.
