Hope planning ‘Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories’

Children sifted through a plastic swimming pool for prizes during 2018's Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories event in Hope.

HOPE The top organizer of Hope’s annual spook-tacular says he’s willing to “howl at the moon” if it brings dry and mild conditions for the upcoming “Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories.”

The annual Halloween festivities in the Hope Town Square will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, event sponsor and town librarian Dave Miller said. On Monday, Oct. 31, traditional trick-or-treating will take place in Hope from 6 to 8 p.m.

While primarily for children in sixth grade or younger, all ages are welcome to attend the festivities, Miller said.

Fans of the “Night At The Museum” film trilogy will want to watch the exhibits come to life in the Yellow Trail Museum, located at the southwest corner of Main and Jackson streets.

“That has always been a big draw,” Miller said.

New this year will be a ghost walk that puts the spotlight on the spookier aspects of the town’s historic landmarks, Miller said. Those who dare to embark should anticipate “ghostly local legends.”

Any ghosts that appear will be on their best, family-friendly behavior in the tradition of the “Christmas of Yesteryear” celebration in November, Miller said.

Besides Halloween, the event will also commemorate the wonders of the fall season, the town’s librarian said.

Those who have attended “Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories” are used to seeing ‘trunk or treat’ take place off Jackson Street on the north side of the square. But the kids will be going from vehicle to vehicle collecting candy on the other side of the town square this year, just off Washington Street, Miller said.

Popular with churches, community centers and grade schools, ‘trunk or treat’ allows adults to get creative by decorating the back of their cars or trucks for Halloween. It is often touted as a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.