Halloween is (almost) here and many of the trick-or-treaters will visit the houses along a certain section of Broadway Ave. on Tuesday evening, Oct. 31. Motorists are reminded to be extra alert and on the lookout for pedestrians wherever they go. The City of Great Bend will do its part by setting out flashing traffic signs on Broadway from Morton to Harrison.
These signs are a reminder to slow down on this avenue where heavy foot traffic is almost certain, said Public Works Director Jason Cauley. The signs will go up early in the afternoon and will be on through the evening.
Last Saturday
The downtown Halloween Trick or Treat Boo and Community Trunk or Treat drew a crowd to the courthouse square on Saturday, even though the temperature started at around 35 degrees and got colder. The parade that drew an estimated 300 costumed children, teens, adults and even a few dogs to businesses on both sides of Main Street started at 11 a.m. The Trunk or Treat vehicles were parked on two sides of the square. Volunteers were ready for as many as 1,000 children said Joseph Smeragliuolo, associate and youth minister with First Christian Church in Great Bend. That’s how many they saw last year, but the cold kept a lot of people away, he said. Even so, there was a large crowd for the first hour.
Costumes ranged from superheroes to ghouls, from animals to whimsical bits of foolery. A child dressed as a hot dog walked next to a girl with groovy blue-tinted glasses. You knew there would be Barbie costumes and one was brand new – a girl was dressed as a doll still in the box!
The parade was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club with members of the Kiwanis Aktion Clubs helping pedestrians cross the streets. The Great Bend Police Department was also on hand at intersections. GBPD and the Great Bend Fire Department handed out treats.
Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark even wore a costume; he was dressed as a firefighter.
The Community Trunk or Treat was organized by area churches to invite other groups and businesses to park around the courthouse square with decorations and more candy. The winners of the Trunk or Treat were Jeremy and Jacqueline King. They had a windowless white van with decoration in the back and free candy on the side.
As the temperature dropped, everything wrapped up early and the square was empty well before the scheduled 2 p.m. closing.
Out on The Hill, Barton Community College had already anticipated the cold weather and had canceled outdoor activities that were a prelude to the annual Haunting on the Hill. However, there were still things to do indoors, with the wizard-inspired comedy “Puffs” in the Fine Arts Auditorium and the Haunting on the Hill in the Fine Arts Building. An estimated 80-90 children attended.
Great Bend High School’s Track or Treat, sponsored by the GBHS Drama Club with several participating organizations, moved off the track and everything was held inside the Panther Activity Center (PAC). With the warm indoor venue, it is estimated that drew 500 people.
