Hundreds of delighted little princesses, super heroes, dragons and candy-carrying kiddos on Tuesday night swarmed through the parking lot Autumn Leaves Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as local businesses and groups from their decorated booths handed out goodies galore.

But the fun wasn’t limited to the youngsters and their folks, as many Autumn Leaves residents themselves were out among the excited crowd, seeming almost as delighted as the children.  Others watched through their windows as events unfolded in the parking lot.

This is the second year that Autumn Leaves has held this outdoor Halloween/Fall Festival event for the community, explained Assistant Administrator Thomas Little.  “There’s a great Fall Festival downtown each year but we can’t take our residents there.  So our activities department worked to bring an event out here.  The community support has been excellent and the weather was cooperative this week.”

As families poured through the arched gate leading into the activity area, they were treated to a sight of colorfully decorated booths lining each side of the parking lot, with the smell of popcorn to the right and grinding of ice for snow cones to the left.  Anchoring the back, by the bounce houses and activities area, was the hotdog table (600 of them) run by volunteers from First Assembly of Winnfield.

Characters from books, games and films abounded. Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion (with Good Witch Glenda), Alice’s Queen of Hearts, Beetlejuice, Candyland, Willie Wonka, Inside Out and more.  For thrills there was the Haunted House that brought a range of reactions for the children.  Some stood trembling at the door, afraid to go in.  Others ran in excited, screaming groups, out the exit, looping back to the entrance in ongoing motion.

“This was an excellent evening,” said Administrator Jimmy Dale Zimmerman.  “We at Autumn Leaves thank the many folks in this community to helped make Tuesday such a success.  They delighted hundreds and hundreds of children.”

Autumn Leaves extended a special thanks to Brookshires, Mac’s Fresh Market and First Assembly of Winnfield for the generous donations that they gave, helping make the event a huge success.