Published: October 27, 2009 04:44 pm      

Brownsburg hosts Halloween events

BROWNSBURG — It’s time again for little ghouls and goblins to take to the sidewalks while they knock on doors and ask for treats here this Halloween season.

There are a variety of Halloween-related events going on this weekend, including a children’s costume contest and puppet show at Arbuckle Acres Park and a Haunted Police Station on Halloween night.

Along with the final weekend of haunted hayrides, the Haunts of Hidden River Haunted Hayrides committee is hosting a puppet show and children’s costume contest at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 in a tent at the park.

Cindy Hyatt, one of the event organizers, said there is no cost to attend the puppet show and costume contest.

“It’s all free,” she said. “They just need moms and dads to be with (the children). We sign them up according to their age ... we just take them all up on the stage and the judges will look at them. This year, we’ve got it little bit different, changed it a little bit. There is an up to 3-year-old category, then 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12.”

Hyatt said each costume will be judged on four categories: Originality, creativity, effort, and crowd-reaction.

“They’re darling,” she said of the costumed children. “Some of the moms really put a lot of time into it.”

The puppet show will be offered at 7:30 p.m., before the costume contest, and again afterwards at 8:30 p.m.

Heidi Shackleford with Melchior Marionettes will be presenting the puppet show again this year. Ray’s Trash Service and Monster Mini Golf in Avon are sponsoring the events. For more information about the contest and show, visit the website at www.hauntedhayrides.org.

Also, for the 20th year, the Brownsburg Police Department will present the Haunted Police Station from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at the station at 31 N. Green St.

The court room will be adorned with Halloween decorations and each child will get a bag of candy with a coloring book and crayons.

BPD Sgt. Karen Walker, special projects coordinator for the department, said Walmart and Lowe’s in Brownsburg both donated to the event.

“Walmart donated the candy and Lowe’s has also donated another item this year to add to our stuff, a blow-up hearse with Dracula inside it,” she said. “Every year we try to get some new items inside so that every year you can come in and see what’s different.”

Walker said the event is designed for younger children, but adults can enjoy it as well.

“It’s a little less scary atmosphere,” she said. “Nobody jumps out at you or tries to grab you. Most of the items are blow-up ... things like that. Even the adults will find it interesting, and we had pretty good reports on it last year.”

She said all in the community are invited to participate in the safe trick-or-treating event.

“Come out and help us celebrate the 20th anniversary,” Walker said.

Those attending may park in the front of the police department and the town hall, as well as in the rear, and across the street.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com