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.
Other attractions will include pumpkin painting, a campfire with s’mores, a mad scientist station (usually headed by a very sane science teacher) and hay wagons with storytellers.
Story telling is at the heart of the annual event, promoting the popular notion that no movie can ever match an individual’s imagination stirred up by a book or a spoken tale, Miller said. Story telling also promotes literacy and a love of language, he said.
“I’ve had adults tell me they still think about scary stories that they first heard as children,” Miller said. “The mind can pull in images from movies, mythology – even a passage from a scary book read years ago.”
The town’s librarian says it has always been his intention for “Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories” to be free and open to all families. Since expenses are up significantly due to inflation, keeping the event free is more important than ever, Miller said.
“I’ve always wanted this to be an attraction that provides a family a nice night of entertainment without feeling they have to spend money,” Miller said. “The town has always been open to that idea and willing to be a co-sponsor to allow it to remain that way.”
If anyone is interested in volunteering for “Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories,” there are still a few spots open, in addition to parking spaces for vehicle owners wanting to participate in trunk or treat.
Those with questions can contact Miller at 812-546-5676.
