Great Bend loves holidays.
Nearly 10 years ago, Great Bend was one of the small cities featured on an A&E Network program called, “Ultimate Holiday Town USA.” That distinction was for our Christmas spirit, and in particular the Santa figures crafted by Loretta Miller.
We still consider ourselves a “Christmas City,” but, as anyone who’s ever been in Great Bend on Independence Day knows, we love other holidays as well. This year’s Halloween observance began last Saturday with trick or treating along Main Street and the Zoo Boo at Brit Spaugh Zoo. The festivities resumed on Oct. 31, as costumed children hit the streets once again.
The portion of Broadway Ave. on either side of the “islands” drew hundreds of trick-or-treaters. Residents estimated they handed out candy to anywhere from 1,000 to 1,800 people.
This year another Broadway occupant, the CrossPoint church, got involved in a big way. The church’s youth group was handing out candy and performing a skit during evening, while the adult members donned orange vests and helped pedestrians crossing the street at three intersections: Harrison, Jackson and Monroe. With so many little ones running about in the fading light, these volunteers made Halloween a little less scary — in a good way.