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Parade opens Marietta’s Halloween in the Park

MARIETTA — For 29 years, civic organizations, area businesses and a whole lot of volunteers have worked to provide area children with more fun than frights on Halloween.

The annual Halloween in the Park event will be ushered in by the Marietta Noon Lions parade at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The lineup and costume contest will be at the corner of Third and Butler streets in the parking lot of the former Moose Lodge. Prizes will be awarded for funniest, scariest and most original costumes. Judging will take place at around 11:40 a.m. and the parade will step off at noon.

“This is always a very safe event, very family-friendly and there is always a lot of creativity that goes into the costumes,” said Donna Fairchild, a Marietta Noon Lions member and the organizer of the parade. “We offer prizes for funniest, scariest and most original and best in show. It’s a great thing for families who may not want to participate in traditional trick or treat.”

Organizers stress that this event is for children and families; no pets and no politics.

“There are other times to do that,” Fairchild said. “Noon Lions strives to put emphasis on community and youth and that is the idea for this parade.”

Children and teens up to age 18 are eligible to participate in the parade and contest. All children up to age 12 will be given a sticker for entry into the activities following at Muskingum Park.

After the parade, the community is invited to Halloween in the Park, an event that has been going on since the 1980s.

“I think the city wanted to have a safe place that kids could go and this was during a time when there were things in the candy and all that,” said Susie Joyce, public facilities office manager with the City of Marietta. “With this event, we know where all the food and donations are coming from and it’s just a safe community event.”

Halloween in the Park will be held immediately following the parade. There will be food and games and all are invited to attend. Parade participants will be allowed to line up first, as long as they have their sticker.

In the event of rain, all activities, including the costume contest, will be moved to a building at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Connie Grimes is organizing the event in the park as part of Pioneer Ladies Civitan. She attributes much of the success of the event to the coordinated efforts of various civic groups.

“The Civitan men cook the hot dogs, Rotary will be handing out information on Safetytown, the Kiwanis Builders Club and Key Club students will help, Zonta does all the decorating and these groups also donate money,” Grimes said.

Everything is free for the public. Many businesses and private donors also contribute to help provide food, trinkets and prizes.

Downtown businesses will also get in on the Halloween act with “Downtown Marietta Trick or Treat,” a new event this year. It will come after the activities in the park, from 1 to 4 p.m.

“There will be 30 merchants participating, handing out treats and wearing costumes,” said Cristie Thomas, executive director of Marietta Main Street. “There will be signs that say candy stop … it’s just a free family-friendly event. The merchants love having kids around and it ties in to the other things that are happening in the community.”

Marietta’s trick or treat will also be held Saturday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. across the city.

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