If you’ve got it, haunt it.

With Halloween creeping up, central Kansans can feel it in their bones. Yards are decorated with fang-tastic, spooky displays, and trick-or-treaters are choosing their costumes.

Once again, the Great Bend Kiwanis Club is sponsoring its annual costume exchange. It will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon on the lawn of the Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St. (Inside, the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale will be going on.)

Kids from preschoolers to sixth grade can sort through new and “gently used” costumes that have been donated.

The Kiwanis will also host the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Great Bend from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Children can wear their costumes and bring their candy containers as they follow the parade route north along the east side of Main Street to 17th Street, cross Main and head back south to 12th Street.

Groups and businesses that aren’t located on Main Street can get into the act by parking around the courthouse square for the Community Trunk or Treat, sponsored by local churches. This also starts at 11 a.m. on Oct. 29. The best-decorated trunk will win a $100 Great Bend Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. 

Haunting on the Hill

Another free pre-Halloween event takes place from 2-5 p.m. on Oct. 29 in the Fine Arts Building at Barton Community College. Haunting on the Hill allows participants to explore the creative side of the season. The family friendly community celebration includes games, performances, art-making, a dance session, a haunted house for ages 10 years and up, and a costume contest.

The event will be hosted by the Barton Performing Arts Department.