Kids will be able to get a new or recycled Halloween costume at no cost from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Great Bend Public Library. The event will take place in the library’s basement, said Barb Esfeld, president of the Great Bend Kiwanis Club.
Kiwanis and the library have been coordinating a costume drive since 2014, and last year 230 children attended, she said.
The organizers have received donations to purchase costumes, along with a few used costumes.
“People cleaned out their closets this year,” she said. “We have about 30 boxes to sort through.” Volunteers are needed to help with setup the day before the giveaway, from 3-5 p.m. on Friday.
Esfeld said she understood how expensive buying a costume can be for families with several children. She spent $15 for a new Power Ranger costume and $20 for a Dorothy costume. Retail costumes ranged in price from $10-25, she said, and most didn’t appear to be made to last for more than a year. That is one reason the sponsors don’t ask children who find their costumes at the library to return them.
While Friday is the big work day for this project, Esfeld said adults are also welcome to help on Saturday. Seeing the children find just the right costume is a lot of fun, she added. “Kids just light up.”

Halloween fun
More Halloween fun is planned for the following Saturday, Oct. 29.
The Kiwanis Club’s annual Halloween parade will start at 11 a.m. in Jack Kilby Square. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes and visit downtown businesses for treats.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Randy Sauer, who specialized in children’s songs, will on hand to entertain people as they return to the courthouse square before prizes are awarded for best costumes.
Members of the two Aktion Clubs, which are sponsored by the local Kiwanis chapter, will be helping with the costume drive as well as the parade the following weekend.
In the event of inclement weather the parade will be canceled.
The 2016 Zoo Boo will run from 5:30-8 p.m. on Oct. 29 in the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.