Children, families enjoy Halloween on the Square

Aryanna, left, and Mathia Williams, a purple witch and a pink princess, respectively, said they liked trick-or-treating Saturday at Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Aryanna, left, and Mathia Williams, a purple witch and a pink princess, respectively, said they liked trick-or-treating Saturday at Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

The annual Scare on the Square trick-or-treating event was held Saturday, and the streets of downtown El Dorado were filled throughout the afternoon with costumed children and adults seeking candy and fun.

Also on the schedule were the Union County Animal Protection Society's Mutt Strut pet show and a costume pageant and contest for children.

Dwayne Malone explored the event with his daughter, Lilly, who was dressed as a ladybug. He said they'd just arrived around 3:15 Saturday afternoon, but that they were already enjoying themselves.

Aryanna Williams came as a purple witch. She said her favorite part of Halloween is "when we eat candy.

She was with her mother, Kashi Carey, and her sister, Mathia Williams, who was dressed as a pink princess.

"I like when we go trick-or-treating," Mathia said.

Tori Reynolds took her great-grandson Christian Nathan, who was dressed as Spiderman, to Scare on the Square. She lauded the event for providing a safe place for children to gather and meet each other.

"Do this again! I love it, because everyone in the community was able to come out and have fun," Reynolds said. "It was really good to see all the vendors and it was a safe environment for our kids."

She said she's looking forward to other downtown holiday events aimed at children. She and Christian stopped to visit Anna Reynolds at All About Flowers, and as they visited, several other groups of children stopped by for candy.

"This is awesome," Tori Reynolds said. "They really came out."

Abigail Villegas dressed as Coco from the eponymous Disney film on Saturday. She said her favorite part of Halloween is "getting candy."

Dustin McDaniel, who co-owns Too Spoiled Rotten with his wife, Hadley, manned the candy station at the baby boutique with his eldest children, Gabriel and Caden Wayne, on Saturday. Caden said his favorite part of the holiday is "scaring people."

"We're having a blast," Dustin McDaniel said.

Gabriel was dressed as a pirate for Halloween, and could be seen interacting with other young children, including eight-month old Nash Parker, who was dressed as a gnome.

Lisa and Steve White took their son, Brandon, to Scare on the Square. Brandon came as The Brow, from "Space Jam."

"We came at the end but so far it's been nice," Lisa White said. "The vendors are all so sweet and the fact that you have somewhere safe to take your kids is absolutely wonderful."

Saturday's Scare on the Square followed Friday's Safe Stop trick-or-treating throughout El Dorado. Later Saturday afternoon, the El Dorado Fire Department teamed up with Perry's Funeral Chapels to present a drive-through trick-or-treating event.

Other Halloween events are scheduled today, including a Carnival in the Park presented by College Avenue Church of Christ at Neel Park; PJ's Coffee's annual Halloween party; and the El Dorado Haunt.

Anna Reynolds holds Christian Nathan, the son of a former student, at All About Flowers during Saturday's Scare on the Square trick-or-treating event. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Anna Reynolds holds Christian Nathan, the son of a former student, at All About Flowers during Saturday's Scare on the Square trick-or-treating event. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Abigail Villegas came to Scare on the Square as Coco from the eponymous Disney film. She said candy is her favorite part of Halloween. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Abigail Villegas came to Scare on the Square as Coco from the eponymous Disney film. She said candy is her favorite part of Halloween. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Brandon White, center, dressed as The Brow from "Space Jam" walks with his parents, Lisa and Steve White, during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/El Dorado News-Times)
Brandon White, center, dressed as The Brow from "Space Jam" walks with his parents, Lisa and Steve White, during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/El Dorado News-Times)
Gabriel McDaniel, a pirate, talks with Nash Parker, a gnome, during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado on Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Gabriel McDaniel, a pirate, talks with Nash Parker, a gnome, during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado on Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Gabriel McDaniel helped man the candy station at Too Spoiled Rotten during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado on Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Gabriel McDaniel helped man the candy station at Too Spoiled Rotten during Scare on the Square in downtown El Dorado on Saturday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

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