“It’s almost Halloween!” an excited child declared Saturday as he sorted through a table of free costumes offered at the Great Bend Kiwanis Club’s annual costume exchange. The event was held on the front lawn of the Great Bend Public Library while, inside, the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale was going on.

Costume drive coordinator Barb Esfeld said some people donated their gently used Halloween costumes and the Kiwanis Club buys several more when they go on sale after Halloween. The scary “Jason” masks are always a hit, but there were also superhero costumes, butterfly wings and a fish suit.

The Rosewood Aktion Club also donated some costumes, Esfeld said.

Dan Soeken from the Kiwanis commented, “the kids are having fun. I’m glad the Kiwanis can do this and have the parade again.”

There won’t be a city Zoo Boo this year, so Kiwanians are excited to have the parade again.

Events that we canceled by the pandemic in 2020 are back this year. Children can wear their costumes at the Kiwanis Halloween Parade, which will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, in Jack Kilby Square. Esfeld is the parade leader and Amanda Urban is coordinating the event.

In the past, businesses along both sides of Main Street have provided candy for children as they walk on the sidewalks from the courthouse. This year, approximately 20 other businesses have committed to filling in any gaps on the route, Urban said. In addition, several church congregations will set up their “trunk or treat” candy giveaways around the courthouse square.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of kids,” Urban said. From the courthouse, they will walk north on Main to 17th Street, cross Main and walk south to 12th Street, crossing the street again and returning to the courthouse square. Members of Great Bend's two Aktions Club, whose members are clients of Rosewood and Sunflower Diversified Services, will help volunteers from the Kiwanis Club who will be assisting people at the crosswalks.