Spook spectacular at Preston Park
BUTLER TWP — On the eve of a full moon, ghosts, ghouls and less-grim characters gathered for trick-or-treating at Preston Park.
Unexpected pairings were found Friday, Oct. 27, among the creatively costumed, including Rapunzel and a Tyrannosaurus rex; Wednesday Addams and Garfield; and a werewolf and a Smurf.
Children and their families all dressed for the sweet and spooky occasion and lined up by the Butler Farm Grounds to be shuttled by bus for a night in the park on Friday, Oct. 27.
Pumpkins and candles lined the pathway, and vendors and local businesses illuminated the way as children walked from tent to tent, holding candy bags that grew fuller with treats with each passing minute as Halloween tunes, like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” played in the background.
Bridgette Brown, of Center Township, brought her extended family to the event from Texas.
“They’ve never been trick-or-treating in a forest before,” Brown said.
She said she couldn’t decide on a favorite Halloween activity. Brown was married on a Friday the 13th, and said the October holiday is her favorite.
Her daughter, Rayne, 14, dressed as Garfield.
She said her favorite thing about Halloween was the candy.
Among the business owners handing out candy were husband and wife duo Adrian DeSantis and Madeline Miller of plant shop Grows on Main. DeSantis and Miller dressed as Lilo and Stitch. Their two dogs wore leis to coordinate.
Their booth was surrounded by plants.
“We wanted to be a little bit ‘planty,’ obviously,” Miller said.
Jeff and Mary Jane Double of floral shop All About Reclaimed decorated their tent with cobwebs, candles and ravens — an eerie blue light glowed on a black couch as parents took the opportunity to snap pictures of their sugar-fueled children.
The event was an opportunity to pay it forward to the community, Jeff Double said.
