Business, local residents prep for Halloween

Oct. 24—Halloween and all its spookiness will be shambling into town early this year for some local churches, business, and shops.

With Oct. 31 taking place on a Tuesday, many haunting events will be on Saturday, Oct. 28. Some events will start early in the morning, such as the Fall Festival from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will be at the pavilion by Norris Park, and will feature food, games, a photo backdrop, and a silent auction fundraiser.

The Falling in to Tahlequah Vendor Show will start Oct. 27 at the Cherokee County Community Building. The Friday show will be from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., while the Oct. 28 event will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids can trick or treat on Friday from 4-5 p.m., and the adult trick-or-treat game will be all day on Saturday.

The Kroner Halloween Bash will be on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. Kroner and Baer Brewpub Manager Michael Payne said the costume contest will be at 10 p.m., allowing participants to make their way to other costume contests throughout Tahlequah. Besides dancing and ghoulish clothing being welcome at Kroner, Payne said there will also be special cocktails.

"We're still finalizing, but I know we're going to be doing jello shots and jello syringes and different things," Payne said. "We're looking at doing blood bags, which is something we did last year."

The Norwood Fire Department will hold a Trunk or Treat on Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., and the United Wrestling Entertainment will be having a Halloween party at the Cherokee Nation Male Seminary Recreation Center. The party will feature a costume contest for adults and kids, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

A pumpkin fair at the Cherokee County Livestock Arena will start at 6 p.m. Heather Winn, Cherokee County OSU Extension Office family and consumer science educator, said the fair is more than just a carnival, since it will feature games and food, as well as a pumpkin contest. The exhibits can be entered Oct. 26-27, and they will be judged the day of the fair.

The Northeastern State University Music Department will be beating its own drum at the NSU Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. with a Halloween recital. Music to be featured at the recital will be Chopin, Bach, Danny Eifman, and more. The concert has free admission, with a costume contest and haunted reception to follow. Another trunk or treat will be attached to a Fall Health and Safety Fair, Oct. 27 from 3-6 p.m.. The first 50 families will receive fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and family first aid kits, provided by the UKB Childcare Subsidy Program. Child identification kits will also be an available.

Kyle Drake, a manager at Ned's, said the bar will be hosting a costume contest at midnight on Oct. 28. Winners will get trophies, a T-shirt, and either $100, $75, or $50, depending on what top three placing the winner receives.

"It'll be busy enough so we don't try to [add any] extra [events]," Drake said.

Some churches will also be getting in on the fun by hosting trunk or treats and other celebrations. Starting at 5 p.m. Oct. 29, Crescent Valley Baptist Church will host a trunk or treat at Norris Park, and Carter Baptist will have a similar event at 6 p.m. on its property. Generations Church will be holding a Fall Fest Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at 3229 S. Muskogee Ave. Another fall festival will take place Oct. 29 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Park Hill Baptist Church, offering a bouncy house, a trunk or treat, food, and more. Cornerstone Fellowship will be staging its fifth annual Fall Family Day on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., with a petting zoo, kids' fishing tournament, cake contest, and more.

The First Apostolic Church will be holding a fall harvest celebration on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Kids can receive a bag of candy, partake in a wiener roast, games, and a hay ride. At First Baptist Church on Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m., there will be another trunk or treat. On Halloween Day at 6 p.m., the Tahlequah First Baptist will present a trunk or treat with inflatables, face painting, games, and more. Sensory friendly activities and aids will be available.

On Oct. 31, a trunk or treat will be taking place from 4-6 p.m. at Anthis Brennan Park. A fall carnival at Briggs Public School's upper gym and cafeteria will start at 6 p.m. It is sponsored by the Briggs Service Club and Briggs Robotics Club.

Many of the events will be close to the parks in Tahlequah, but some may require attendees to travel farther. The Spooky-Hawk Trunk or Treat will be from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Sparrowhawk Campgrounds.

Several of the local bars and restaurants in town will be taking part in the Halloween festivities later in the day on Oct. 28. From 7-10 p.m., Piddles Cajun Bar and Grill has invited the public to the Haunted Halloween Costume Party on Friday, Oct. 28. Piddles will hand out prizes for the best adult costume, as well as door prizes for the best youth costumes. The Deck at Cookson Village will be hosting a party on Friday at 7 p.m. with music by Sons of Turner. In Keys, The Bird and Bison will offer a Halloween Monster Mash Bash on Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. Only those 21 years old and older can attend the bash, which will feature a costume party, music, drinks, and dancing.

Even though Oct. 31 is on a Tuesday this year, some organizations will still have Halloween events. The Cherokee County Courthouse will hold its usual trunk or treat from 2-4 p.m. A trunk or treat complete with face painting and other activities will be on Halloween Day at 7Brew and Whataburger from 4-6 p.m. A Halloween night haunted house at 1700 Old River Road will be taking place on Oct. 31.

Justin Kelley, a bartender at Dewain's Place, said Saturday will bring in their big Halloween party, but they will be open on Oct. 31.

"We will be open and whatever specials we had on Saturday, we will carry over for that day, as well," Kelley said.

Kelley said the party will start around 9 p.m., featuring Rebel DJ Alliance and a midnight costume contest.

Tell us about it

Any other business or organization with Halloween-themed events should email news@tahlequahdailypress.com and the information will be included in an update.