The Downtown Development Authority’s Pumpkins in the Park event for trick-or-treating Thursday proved to be a great success, drawing in hundreds more participants than in years past.
More than 200 children entered into the costume contest, but organizers expect 300 people to have been in the downtown area in total, trick-or-treating and participating in activities.
The event serves several purposes in bringing families together in the heart of downtown, Amanda Glover, who is the executive director for the DDA said.
“We were very impressed with the number of people we had out this Thursday,” Glover said. “We had the largest crowd we have had in years thanks to all the merchants who participated, judges, volunteers and sponsors who helped out at different prize levels.”
Glover said participants who brought their children around the square could have seen places they hadn’t before; maybe they discovered new stores or restaurants they can bring their families to.
“We are a ‘Main Street Community’ founded on the four points of organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring — so this is part of the promotional side of things, “ Glover said. “Bringing people in for Pumpkins in the Park, maybe some people discovered some things that are downtown that they didn’t know were there before.”
Included in Thursday’s events, there were activities such as bobbing for mini pumpkins and face painting. There were costume contests for all age groups and merchants sat outside their businesses for candy giveaways and trick-or-treating.
The Downtown Development Authority also hosted a scarecrow contest that drew in businesses and residents in the downtown area.