Fairmont geared up for spooky season
Variety of events planned for Friday, Saturday
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FAIRMONT - Across Fairmont, people are getting in the spooky spirit and setting up their Halloween events.
This year, the holiday itself falls on a Saturday. For the downtown Prowl the Plaza, the Greater Plaza Area Council has elected to hold it from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 instead of Saturday, Oct. 31.
"A lot of the businesses downtown are either closed on Saturdays or only open till noon to various hours," GPAC Member Sara Cyphers said. "To give the kids a place to trunk or treat, we decided to move it to the day that we’re all open."
This year, not including the downtown businesses themselves, 29 businesses, area organizations and families have reserved spots for Prowl the Plaza, up from 18 last year. In getting the word out and reaching out to prospective participants, Cyphers said people are grateful to see the event returning year after year.
"We could have just said, 'Oh, we’ll do it again in two years,'" she said. "We decided as businesses we enjoy it so much that we would move it to Friday, so it worked out for everyone."
As a parent, Cyphers said Halloween being on Saturday and Prowl the Plaza being on Friday has made everything much easier.
"You’re not trying to cram everything in from four till bath time, bedtime, to get up for school the next day," she said. "It’s nice that it is on the weekend. Friday is nice for my family. We don’t have to try and do it all at once. The next day, we can put the costume on and go again and have a good attitude and not be worn out."
Trick-or-treating with the residents will be available before Prowl the Plaza on Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Ingleside Assisted Living and trunk-or-treating will also be available from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran School so parents have multiple opportunities to take kids out to enjoy their costumes and candy Friday before Halloween on Saturday.
One event that will not be returning from last year is the Cobweb Manor by Imagine Martin. They will still have their Halloween photo shoot at the interactive umbrellas mural.
Also not returning this year is the Woodland Avenue festivities, which featured the Woodland Witches and food trucks. Organizer and Woodland Witch Diane Luedtke said her mother recently passed away, and with spending time with her mother in hospice and another witch having a sick family member to attend to, it was decided to hit the pause button this year.
"It’s hard to not do it, but sometimes you just gotta prioritize," she said.
However, people are still invited to trick-or-treat along Woodland Avenue and enjoy looking at many of the decorated homes along the street.
Plenty will be going on for kids during Halloween day as well. Martin County Library has their Halloween Fun event from 10:30 to 12:30, Bowlmor will have their Halloween Family Day at noon, Lakeview Methodist is doing their trick-or-treat with the residents from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Backyard Kreations has their Trunk or Treat at Ward Park from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and Halloween Rock On Ice will cap off the night at the Martin County Arena.
While Halloween has traditionally been dominated by the kids, adults will also have their fair share of events this year as well. Silo '67 has seen their Halloween festivities grow enough to expand to two nights, having Halloween Karaoke and a Costume Contest Friday from 9 p.m. till close, with the contest at 11 p.m., and a second contest with a Halloween DJ from 9 p.m. till close on Saturday.
After having their first Halloween event last year, Fairmont Brewing Company also saw enough traction to make it a yearly thing. Saturday from 4 p.m. till closing, they will have a costume contest and live entertainment.
Finally, while it isn't an event, many houses have been dressed and decorated in all kinds of Halloween decorations, large and small, making a drive around Fairmont a festive feast for the eyes.