The St. Clairsville Recreation Department and Unified Bank are partnering to get the Halloween holiday weekend celebration started a little early this month.
The J.B. Martin Recreation Center will be hosting a “Fangtastic” Halloween event on Saturday, October 29 from 3-5 p.m. The event is open to children ages 1-12 living in any community. And the best part? The event is free to all who attend.
That’s where Unified comes in.
“We want to thank Unified Bank once again for helping us to put on this great event for the kids and the community,” said Eric Gay, director of the St. Clairsville Parks and Recreation Department. “They’ve helped us out in the past and once again, came through so that we can keep the event free for everyone to attend.”
Registration is not necessary, but is encouraged through the recreation department’s website at www.stcrecdept.recdesk.com. If it’s your first time signing up for anything through the department, you’ll need to create a free account, which only takes a few minutes. Once one is created, simply find the Halloween event and sign up how many people are attending.
As Gay said, it’s not necessary. No child or family will be turned away at the door, but it does help in planning.
“No one will be turned away, we just ask that if you know you are going to attend, to register online ahead of time,” Gay said. “That helps us figure out how much candy and refreshments to buy to make sure we have enough.”
The event is not weather permitting as it’s entirely housed inside the rec center. There will be candy and cider, plus Halloween costume contests in varying categories, complete with prizes, for the children.
There will be categories like scariest costume, most original, prettiest, and potentially more according to Gay.
Gay noted that this isn’t the first year the department has put on a similar event for kids prior to Halloween. The last few have attracted around 75-100 kids, though there is capacity to host and entertain more.
It’s not the only Halloween event that weekend, or even that day in St. Clairsville.
Children and families finishing up at the rec center event can head right up South Sugar Street about two blocks to Giacinta’s Gelato & Caffe, where the eatery will be passing out candy from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate its one year anniversary of being open. It’s on the corner of S. Sugar and E. Main Street.
In between, the St. Clairsville High School band is hosting a trunk or treat event in the high school parking lot, but that is limited to band members and their families.
Bring your bags kids, there’s a feast of candy to be had between the rec center and Giacinta’s just up the road.
All these events lead up to the pinnacle of Halloween weekend for area children, Monday’s trick or treat. The City of St. Clairsville previously set trick or treat time from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 31.
“It should be a real exciting Halloween weekend,” Gay said. “There’s plenty to do.”
Going Forward
While many are focused on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas literally are right around the corner. With that in mind, the rec department is bringing back an old favorite that hasn’t been put on in quite some time.
On Saturday, November 19, there will be a craft and vendor show inside the rec center from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Vendors wishing to set up can do so at the cost of $25 a table. There are 25 tables available for vendors looking to sell their wares. At present, Gay believes there are around 15 vendors signed up already, so anyone looking to get a spot should contact the rec center at (740) 695-2037 for more information or to reserve their spot.
“It’s something we haven’t done in a long time, but I know they were popular and we wanted to bring it back,” Gay said. “We have 25 tables available, which will still leave enough room for people to set up and also walk around and shop. I know it’s Halloween but Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it.”
