Nothing Scary About the Success of Annual Halloween Spooktacular

Once again the threat of rain proved no match for the spirit of Howell Township as another celebration went off without a hitch. 

On Wednesday night more than 1200 people turned out in their Halloween finest for the annual Spooktacular. The event proved to be a rousing success in its first year at Oak Glen Park proving coordinators were right to move it to the new location. 

In previous years the festival was held at Echo Lake Park and when Mother Nature interfered it was moved to the old recreation building so the festivities could still be held. 

Steven Fecher, the Director of the Department of Community Relations said this year's turnout far exceeded his expectations. In the past, the 200 children who came out was considered a success making this year that much more impressive. "As soon as 5 o'clock hit we had people starting to come into the park," he said of the event that started at 5:30. "Around 6 o'clock you could tell that the numbers were going to be there. 

Fecher attributed the turnout to the weather on a day that ended up not having the predicted rain. He also said another contributing factor was that it was a free event for everyone in attendance. "It wasn't hot and it wasn't cold. It was just the right temperature," he said. 

In the new location there were plenty of games and activities for the children as well as a considerable amount of tricks and treats for everyone. One of the most popular events of the night was the hayride that wound its way through the park and around the fields for a special holiday tour. 

The haunted hayride, Fecher said, was the most popular attraction and fit well with all the children who came out in costume. He said that while there was no consistent costume, there was a definite trend to the way people dressed up. "There were not as many pretty costumes or cutest costumes," he said. Those that did dress up came as everything from astronauts to vampires and everything in between.

Understandably pleased with the turnout, Fecher said it is the continuation of a trend he has seen in the town in recent years. "For the last two or three years our numbers have just gone up and up and up," he said. The growing attendance he said is thanks in part to the quality of the product the township is providing. 

With Halloween just a few days away plans are already in the works for the town's annual tree and menorah lighting which is now just under two months away.