Halloween Happenings Abound
Halloween is next Monday, Oct. 31, and no one can say this community doesn’t know how to celebrate…there is a lot happening for the occasion.
The house above is on Eatonton Street, and will welcome many trick-or-treaters Monday evening after Haunticello ends and before the movie begins. Haunticello is Monticello’s annual celebration which this year will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday at the businesses and offices around and off the downtown Square. Then at 7:30 p.m., the city of Monticello will show the movie, The Curse of Bridge Hollow on the Square at 7:30 pm. Much of the movie was filmed in Monticello about a year ago.
Also, in the meantime, the American Legion will welcome youth and adults to its Haunted House at 438 E. Greene Street. (Younger children, who scare easily, can enjoy popcorn and watch a movie outside while older children go through the house, said organizers.) The Haunted House will be open Friday, Oct. 28, Saturday, Oct. 29, and Monday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m.
And, as you prepare for Halloween, don’t forget the benefit Haunted Hayride (pictured at right) being held at the Shady Dale Rodeo Grounds Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 5 p.m. There’s a lot more to the hayride than just a hayride.
There will be carnival games, raffles, jump house, a variety of refreshments, and basically plenty of family fun. It was a hit last Saturday, and as much fun is planned again this Saturday.
The “Eatonton Street Halloween House” belongs to Jeff and Gerri Yoder and they wish everyone a happy Halloween. Mrs. Yoder shared with us how it all started.
“The craziness sparked in 2014. That year, our decorations consisted of a family of three scarecrows—Daddy Scarecrow, sitting on the porch, in his overhauls, waving at passersby, a little boy with a straw hat sitting in Daddy’s lap and Mama Scarecrow standing behind them in her bonnet and full length 1800s day dress.
“That Halloween, a young father brought his daughter to the front door for trick or treating. She was maybe three years old and was an adorable fairy princess. She was so excited—not just to be getting candy—but to actually be on our porch. “Can I, Daddy??!! Can I go say Hello to the people??!!”
“We stood there confused until her father asked if it was ok if she walked down the porch to see the scarecrows. Seemed that every morning, on their way to her daycare, they drove by the house. Because Daddy Scarecrow was waving to her, she waved back and shouted, “Hello People!” She was so excited to get to meet the family that greeted her, every day, on her ride from home and back again. An unintended consequence of three last minute Halloween decorations.
“So often, we don’t stop to realize the effect that small things can make in this cynical world we live in,” said Mrs. Yoder. “A smile, a kind word. Paying for the car behind you in the drive through line. Halloween decorations. They made a little girl so happy, and little girls grow up so fast. That little girl made us want to give just a little wonder and magic where we could. So, pumpkin by pumpkin, skeleton by skeleton, our display grew.
“In decorating, we remembered how much fun it was to be a child at the holidays. Remember? Remember that house in your neighborhood that you couldn’t wait to go to? The decorated house that gave you a little bit of a scare and, as a bonus, gave out the ‘good’ candy?
“The wonder and magic that is childhood is over so fast. We hope that children here grow up and tell their kids about the Halloween House on Eatonton Street. We want to make memories, not only for our children and grandchildren, but to children we don’t know that are so excited that scarecrows take the time to wave to them every morning.
“We hope that little girl remembers and we hope that we are still here, with all our Halloween silliness, when her children are trick or treating. There are always displays in our yard that are waving, just for her. “See kids, here’s the house I told you about! I came here when I was a little girl! They give out the “good” candy! Come on. Let’s go up on the porch and say hello to the people!”
The Yoders welcome trick-or-treaters who visit their home and enjoy their display.
