Mayor: Trick-or-treating on Halloween OK

Halloween events scheduled throughout weekend

Plenty of Halloween and fall festival events are slated for the weekend and with the holiday falling on Monday, Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer said her office has been flooded with inquiries about when the city will observe Halloween, trick-or-treating and other activities.

"I have received several calls asking if the city is going to move it," Smith-Creer said.

"I know that happens sometimes if it's on a Sunday but since it's on a Monday, people can trick-or-treat on Monday if they'd like," she continued.

Smith-Creer noted that area residents will have their pick of events over the weekend and on Oct. 31 to celebrate Halloween and even get a jump-start on their Christmas shopping.

Events

• Scare on the Square, noon - 4 p.m., Saturday, downtown El Dorado. Presented by Main Street El Dorado and the Downtown Business Association, the event will include trick-or-treating, popcorn, hot dogs, games, vendors and more. UCAPS will host a pet costume contest at 1 p.m. A children's costume contest, organized by The CALL of Union County, will follow at 2 p.m. Several local businesses, churches, and other organizations, including the El Dorado Fire Department and South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field/Southern Airways Express, are participating in Scare this year. Admission and activities are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Main Street office at 870-862-4747 or visit mainstreeteldorado.org or the Main Street Facebook page.

• Fall Festival, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mattocks Park, Detroit and Sharp streets. The Orlando D. Reed Sr. Foundation is introducing a new, community event, which will include a bounce house, hayrides, games, free candy and other "spooky treats." The main event -- a basketball game between local teams, the Hoyas and the Rebels -- will be held in the James Johnson Gym, which is adjacent to Mattocks Park at 1901 Detroit. Admission and activities for the festival are free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted as the entry fee for the basketball game and may include children's clothing and toys, canned goods, other non-perishable foods, etc. The items will be collected for a giveaway during the ODRSF's "Finding Our Way Together" community Christmas event in December. For more information, call Orlando Reed Jr. at 214-779-1957 or Jason Roberson at 501-554-4961.

• Halloween costume party, 10 p.m. - 2:30 a.m., Saturday, Gusher ELKS Lodge, No. 560, 1525 E. 19th St. The party will include music and a costume contest, with prizes awarded for the best costume. Admission is $10 with a costume and $15 without a costume. The event is also presented by the ODRSF and proceeds will go toward the "Finding Our Way Together" Christmas event and other community-service activities.

• Halloween Fright Night Paint Party, 4 - 9 p.m., Saturday, The Canvas Art Studio, 2018 N. College. The event will include painting, food, candy and fun. The fee is $10 per painter. For more information, text 870-814-2452.

• Fall Fest, 4 - 6 p.m., Saturday, West Side Baptist Church, 2400 W. Hillsboro. Fall Fest will include games, food and truck or treat. Admission and activities are free and open to all ages. For more information, call 870-863-4113.

• El Dorado Haunt: A Haunted Trail Ride, 7 - 9 p.m., Saturday, Parkers Chapel ball fields, Parkers Chapel Road, just off Arkansas 15/Haynesville Highway. Tickets are $15 and proceeds will benefit Campfire El Dorado. For more information, visit the El Dorado Haunt Facebook page.

• Frighty Night Outdoor Movies, 6:30 p.m., Friday, on the lawn next to the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society/Gallery of History Museum, 412 E. Faulkner. The event includes a free screening of "Creature from the Black Lagoon", which will start at 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets, ice chests and picnic baskets. Hot dogs, popcorn and s'mores will be sold. Frighty Night is open to the public. For more information, call 870-862-9890

• Night of the Living Newtons, 6 - 8 p.m., Saturday, Newton House Museum, 510 N. Jackson. The event, presented by the SAHPS, will include a haunted, downtown walking tour, ending with a walk-through of the Newton House Museum by candlelight. To RSVP or for more information, call 870-862-9890, send an email to [email protected] or visit the SAHPS Facebook page.

• Fall Fest, 2 - 4 p.m., Sunday, Harmony Baptist Church, 4628 Junction City Hwy. The event will include food, games, a maze, cake walk, photo booth and more. Fall Fest is free and open to the public. For more information, call 870-862-7719.

• Carnival in the Park, 3 - 5 p.m., Sunday, Neel Park, Parkway and Randolph streets (behind Domino's Pizza). Hosted by College Avenue Church of Christ, the carnival will include free food, candy, trunk-or-treating and more. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 870-862-1552.

• Norphlet Community Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat, 4 - 6 p.m., Sunday, Norphlet Middle School parking lot, 700 School St. The free event will include candy, hot dogs, drinks and a hayride. For more information, call 870-546-2577 or send an email to [email protected].

• Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Monday, Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado parking lot, 1201 N. West Ave. The evening will include food, games and prizes. To host a trunk, volunteer or for more information, call Deneisa or Dominique at 870-863-8753.

• Halloween party, 5 - 10 p.m., Monday, PJ's Coffee, 106 W. Main. The party will feature drink specials, a costume contest and a performance by the CS-Dubb band. For more information, call 870-875-1409.

• Mistletoe Market, 5 - 9 p.m., Friday, and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, First Financial Music Hall, 101 E. Locust. For more information, call the Arkansas Women's Business Center at 870-864-8429.

Upcoming Events