Halloween activities heralded

With the bewitching time of Halloween upon us, several festivities— beginning Friday evening and running through the first days of November—are scheduled to celebrate the fall holiday.

No Tricks, Just Treats Wednesday evening, ghosts, goblins and the like will be making their way down Main Street in Sparta, and may be making stops in local neighborhoods as well. The annual No Tricks, Just Treats event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street in Sparta between N.C. 18 and Cheek Street.

Main Street Coordinator Barbara Lucier commented on the upcoming event. "We hold the annual Halloween celebration in town each year to serve as a 'safe' way for the parents to take their children trick-or- treating," she said. "We hope parents and kids will have a safe and fun time participating in the activities."

Activities taking place along the closed section of Main Street include—but are not limited to—Olde Tyme General Store will hold a costume contest, while Buxton Abbey will offer a coloring contest and the staff will be adorned in Harry Potter attire, Teachers' Tools and Tea will host a tattoo table and Mountain Dreams Realty will sponsor a cake walk.

Lucier commented that additional businesses—located along North Main Street and the local shopping centers—will be open during the No Tricks, Just Treats time period offering treats to the youngsters. The Chamber of Commerce has orange fliers for merchants to display in their windows to indicate that they are giving out treats on the evening of Halloween.

First Baptist Church of Sparta is planning to host activities during the event. Children will have the opportunity to get candies during trunk or treat, or check out the skating demonstrations that are scheduled to take place. After the demonstrations and as the event draws to a close, a raffle ticket will be selected and the recipient will receive a skateboard.

Other activities, including a bounce house, are also on tap. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 372-5473 or Lucier at 372-6135.

Halloween Extravaganza

The Family Resource Center will hold its annual Halloween Extravaganza, Friday Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the center, located on Wee Care Avenue behind Country Homestead. All events are free of charge.

Director Pam Sizemore commented with a laugh, "The staff at the Family Resource Center invites you and your family out for a nice and scary evening of fun."

A costume contest will be held and a face painter and fortune teller will be on hand through the evening. Visitors can also play games including—but not limited to—pumpkin bowling, pumpkin golf, pin the wart on the witch and pin the nose on the pumpkin.

For the brave souls who want to venture the center's haunted trail, they may do so beginning at 7 p.m.

For more information, call Sizemore at 372-6583.

Halloween Alternative

Those in search for a Halloween alternative have the option of visiting the Alleghany County Fairgrounds Saturday Oct. 27 between noon and 8 p.m. The family fun day/hallelujah night is free of charge and offers games and music.

Throughout the course of the day, several musical groups will perform Southern gospel and praise and worship songs. Meanwhile, several pastors—who will alternate every 30 minutes—will be sharing God's word. Originally billed as a 'tent revival,' Organizer Kathy Rasimowicz noted Monday morning that the revival will instead by held in the agriculture building at the fairgrounds.

Activities for the children, including—but not limited to—face painting, bean bag toss and fishing games—are also on tap. Food and drink options will be available for purchase throughout the event as well.

Rasimowicz noted she was of the opinion that the Oct. 27 event "will be the first its kind at the fairgrounds. Come out, get a special word from the Lord just for you and be blessed," she said. For more information, call Rasimowicz at 276-579-2368.

Other Events

• Alleghany County Public Library and the Junior Friends of the Library will host "Tales and Treats" from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Children are invited to take in a "scary" story and enjoy a treat before taking part in the merchant activities further down Main Street. For more information, call 372-5573;

• New Covenant Church, located on N.C. 18 north in Ennice, will host a hallelujah night from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. The evening will feature fun and games. Children will be given the opportunity to participate in trunk or treat, which is scheduled to be held in the church's parking lot. Participants are encouraged to dress up for the event, but are asked to avoid scary costumes;

• On Oct. 28, Sparta United Methodist Church will allow children to trick-or-treat from car trunks from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. A best costume contest is also on tap. Crafts, games and refreshments will also be available;

• Some residents of Maplewood Apartments on Independence Road in Sparta will be giving out candy on Halloween. Individuals will indicate their participation by having their porch light turned on. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the community prior to 9 p.m. that evening;

• Stacy Evans and the staff at Triple E Riding Stables will be hosting a haunted house/spook trail Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27 and Nov. 1 through 3. Meanwhile, children will be given the opportunity to decorate pumpkins.

The event will begin about dusk each evening, ending around 10 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

The monies collected will go toward special needs equipment, according to Evans. For more information, call 372-5366 or go online at www.3estable.com.

 

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