Children will have some extra chances to show off their Halloween costumes and collect some treats in Great Bend on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The annual Kiwanis Halloween Parade will be at 11 a.m. at the Barton County courthouse square. Businesses along Main Street will have candy. Organizers from the Great Bend Noon Kiwanis Club said members of its two Aktion Clubs will assist with traffic control.
Saturday afternoon, children are invited to wear their costumes for free Halloween pictures at Walgreens from 1-5 p.m.
At least two churches with have a “trunk or treat” event on Saturday, with members handing out candy in the parking lots.
Grace Community Church, 210 McKinley St., will trunk or treat during its Fall Harvest Carnival, from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be carnival games, hay rides, a family photo booth, and chicken noodle soup and chili. Freewill donations will benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.
First Christian Church, 5230 Broadway Ave., will have its trunk or treat from 3 to 5 p.m. The church is selling pumpkins and gourds at its outdoor “pumpkin patch,” which is also a great location for family photos.
The annual Zoo Boo will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Great Bend’s Brit Spaugh Zoo. Dozens of businesses and organizations will be handing out candy there as well. Zoo Director Scott Gregory said average attendance at this free event is 4,000 people.
“This year we have a record number of organizations that are going to participate, which means kids should get a bag full of candy,” he said. They can also get a cup of hot chocolate, and an apple from Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison.
Zoo Boo is not overly frightening for small children, but Gregory said there will be one “scary section,” set up and operated by students from Barton Community College. “It’s completely optional,” he said.
This week also marks the opening of the annual Judgement House walk-through drama at Great Bend’s Church of the Nazarene, 4811 Broadway. This year’s show is called “Revenge! When Rage Takes Control,” and can be seen from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. A $3 donation is suggested. This program is not recommended for children under 10 years old.
Halloween, Oct. 31, is the last day entries will be accepted for the Great Bend Tree Board’s Trick of Tree Photo Contest. A $50 gift certificate and a bag of Halloween candy will be awarded for the best photo of a tree located in Barton County in each of five categories: Best decorated for Halloween, biggest (tree trunk diameter), most unusual species, most beautiful fall colors and tree with the most interesting story or historical significance. Send photo, name contact information and location of tree to trickortree@yahoo.com or drop off at the Great Bend City Building, 1209 Williams St.