By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
(NOTE: It was announced Monday afternoon that Creatures of the Night has been cancelled.)
Decatur’s annual Callithumpian Festival swings into high gear this week.
The 42nd annual Rotary Poster Painting Contest kicks things off Thursday at Riverside Center. Kindergarten, first and second grade students will paint from 5:45-6:45, then the third, fourth and fifth graders will do their art work from 7-8.
Registration for the popular event has already closed.
Several events are on tap Saturday.
Safety Park Trick-or-Treat will be held at Worthman Field from 1-3 p.m. The event is for pre-school and elementary students who are urged to come in costume for safe trick or treating.
Pumpkin Palooza, for kids 4 to 12 years of age, will be held at American Legion Cannon Park from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Scheduled are pumpkin decorating, pumpkin faces, and pumpkin rolling.
Cost will be $3 per child, which will include two mini pumpkins, face painting and games. Snacks will be available.
Organizers say the first 50 people are guaranteed participation.
Also Saturday night, from 8:15 to 10 p.m., the Callithumpian Fireworks will be held at Riverside Center.
Rain date will be the same time the next night.
The following Monday will bring one of the festival’s main attractions, the Callithumpian Parade, starting at 7 p.m. from the Bellmont/Stratton Place area and winding its way through downtown.
A final big event will follow on Tuesday, Trick-or-Treat Night, 5:30 to 7:30. Officials ask that children under the age of 14 be accompanied by an adult.
Meanwhile, a month-long event, Haunted Nights at the Dugan Mansion in Decatur will wrap up Friday and Saturday, 7-10 p.m.
Admission will be $5 per person, and organizers say the haunted mansion is not recommended for children 5 years of age and under.
The Dugan Mansion, which is the Adams County Historical Society’s museum, is located at 420 Monroe St., between Fourth and Fifth streets in Decatur.
NEW EVENT: A new event is the Downtown Halloween Hunt from 11 a.. to 1 p.m. this Saturday.
Participants will pick up a map and Halloween Hunt Sheet at Mr. Planners or any other participating downtown businesses and head down Second St. to visit those participating businesses.
“Visit a business, find their hidden Halloween picture and match it to their business on your Halloween Hunt Sheet,” organizers said. “Grab some candy before you leave and maybe let mom do some shopping.”
After matching at least 10 businesses, participants should go to Storybook Park and receive a free hot cocoa, courtesy of The Java Bean Cafe.
