STARKVILLE – As the crisp air of fall returns and front porches in the Golden Triangle fill with creatures of the night it can only mean one thing – Halloween is back.
While some may be busy on the haunting night, there are a number of events taking place leading up to the holiday to get locals in on the fun.
From 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Starkville’s Main Street Association will once again be hosting Pumpkinpalooza, a large halloween celebration sponsored by Chick-fil-A.
This year, the event is being moved from its usual location on Main Street to the HUB Plaza and down University Drive, said Paige Watson, director for Main Street for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
Even with the change in location, Watson said organizers are still excited to see the community show up for this year’s festival.
“It’s definitely really special seeing the whole community kind of come together,” Watson told The Dispatch. “This is an event that’s been going on so long. … I know it’s a really special event for a lot of people that look forward to it each year, so that’s always very heart warming.”
The event will include pumpkin painting with the Starkville Area Arts Council, trick-or-treating and balloon artists, Watson said. It will also feature bounce houses and the Mississippi State Spirit Squads.
Watson said a portion of University Drive in front of the HUB will be closed from 3-8 p.m. to give organizers time to set up the event, keep festival-goers safe as they walk around and clean up afterward.
“It’s a very minor closure compared to previous years,” Watson said.
Over in Columbus, the city’s parks and recreation department is planning a few events to help facilitate some family fun this spooky season, Director of Programs Chanda Williams told The Dispatch.
The annual community fall festival is set for Oct. 25 at Propst Park, where first responders from the Columbus Police Department and Columbus Fire and Rescue as well as members from local churches will pass out candy to children, Williams said. There will also be bounce houses in the area for kids to enjoy, she said.
“We have about 1,000 kids that come through, and (we) just want to see their faces light up with them having a safe place to come,” Williams said.
The recreation department will also be hosting an After School Halloween Bash on Oct. 31 at the Sim Scott Community Center. The event is meant to give a safe space for students to come and have fun on Halloween without having to go door-to-door for candy, Williams said.
“They’ll have their costumes on. They’ll dance. They’re going to play games,” Williams said. “… (It’s) just somewhere for them to be safe, to come out that night.”
The event will run from 6-10 p.m. and will feature food, door prizes and a costume contest. Williams said those planning to attend are asked to purchase $5 tickets either at the Sim Scott Park or through the recreation department before the night of the event.
Other events
Across the Golden Triangle there will be halloween-themed events taking place at churches, schools and libraries leading up to the witching hour on Oct. 31.
Trunk-or-Treat
Sunday, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m.
Columbus
First Baptist Church in Columbus is hosting a trunk-or-treat at the church that will also feature hotdogs and jumpers. The event is free to the public and will be held at 3000 Bluecutt Road.
Fall Wellness Fair
Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Columbus
Robertson Medical Clinic will be hosting its fall wellness fair, where community members can receive free health tests including blood sugar, weight and blood pressure checks. There will also be additional information about weight management, healthcare enrollment and mental health services. The event will be held at 326 Military Road.
Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, Oct. 18 from 2-4 p.m.
Columbus
Columbus Municipal School District will be hosting a trunk-or-treat event at the Columbus High School stadium parking lot. The event will feature games, pony rides and more.
Haunted Library
Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4-5:30 p.m.
Columbus
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will be hosting a night of games, crafts and candy. Costumes are encouraged, and the event is free to attend.
Night at the Library
Thursday, Oct. 30 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Columbus
The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library is hosting a night of trivia and costumes for local adults. The event is sponsored by Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and is exclusive to local adults.
Teen Halloween Party
Friday, Oct. 24 from 6-9 p.m.
Starkville
The Starkville Public Library is hosting a halloween party for local teens that will feature snacks, game stations and a costume contest.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
