Witching Hour on Main Street
by Andrea L. Dono
Young trick-or-treaters in Rochester, Mich., can get candy and healthy treats at the farmer's market on Halloween morning.
Credit: Rochester DDA
Most people know that if there is a holiday, there’ll be something fun on Main Street to celebrate it. Halloween is no different, and many Main Streets have had creative events planned all month. From trick-or-treating downtown to costumed-pet parades to a star-studded fund raiser—there was no shortage of creative ideas that brought people to Main Street to gather as a community and to support local businesses.
Here are just two events that took place on Main Street this Halloween. Please leave a comment and tell us about the Halloween happenings that haunted your communities this month.
Main Street, Rochester, Michigan
Downtown Rochester's entry in the Stonewall Pumpkin Festival's scarecrow contest tied for first place.
Credit: Rochester DDA
Those who love Halloween have a variety of small-town activities to enjoy throughout October in Downtown Rochester, Michigan. On the first weekend in October, All Souls Day is celebrated with a storytelling hour by author Laura Cassar, who wrote Night of 1,000 Pumpkins. Children have not one but two chances to score some confection loot - by visiting participating businesses the weekend before Halloween and then heading to the downtown farmer's market on Halloween morning. Afterwards, spectators can watch the little ghouls and goblins march to the Fire Station to frolic in the pumpkin patch before the community gathers for a spaghetti dinner.
Some of the festive mood was fueled by social media. The Rochester Downtown Development Authority, the local Main Street revitalization program, solicited ideas on its Facebook page to decide on Downtown Rochester's entry for the scarecrow contest that was part of the Stonewall Pumpkin Festival at a nearby historic site. The group asked people to vote on their favorite idea. The community voted on a scarecrow with a theme based on the organization's immensely popular and increasingly imitated holiday lights event – The Big, Bright, Light Show. Big, Bright Buddy, which tied for first place in the contest, is located right outside of the organization's office downtown for everyone to see.
Charleston, West Virginia – Historic East End
Got fangs? You'll need them for the HallowEast—a four-day Halloween extravaganza in the Historic East End district of Charleston, West Virginia. HallowEast touts itself as "an event you can really sink your teeth into." It is packed with so many events that participants are sure to emerge as zombies by Monday. In fact, enough excitement was building in the Historic East End that a countdown clock ticked down on HallowEast.com.
As a celebrity twist to this year's holiday weekend—Sam Trammell, one of the stars of HBO's hit series "True Blood"—will be visiting his hometown for a fund raiser "Inside the Main Street Studio" interview on stage. Local residents can press the actor for juicy details about working on the popular vampire show while supporting a cause they love—the revitalization of the Washington and Smith Street commercial corridors.
Charleston folk can support other good causes by volunteering to donate blood during a very appropriate Red Cross blood drive. Other happenings include ArtMares, a local artists' show and market of horror-themed art; family-friendly events and trick-or-treating downtown; Dial M for Murder performances; the Main Street Murder Mystery Cocktail Party (complete with a YouTube teaser); concerts and block parties; and deals, promotions, and Halloween-oriented specials at local shops, bars, and restaurants. Watch the YouTube teaser video on the Murder Mystery party, if you dare.
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