The 2024 Fall Festival is just two weeks away (Thursday, October 31), a time when downtown Winnfield will be wrapped up with costumed children and parents. The event’s organizers are asking groups, businesses and individuals to plan their involvement that evening to bring some delight for the youngsters.
“Main Street will be awash with Halloween people from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. that day,” says Shonna Moss at the Louisiana Political Museum. “The Costume Contest at the Museum will start at 5:30, with registration at 5, and there will be ‘bookend’ events on Main with a Pumpkin Patch and food at the Methodist Church to the west and Bounce Houses at the Baptist Church to the east.
“But there’s a lot of Trunk or Treat room between them and participation is greatly needed from individuals, businesses, and groups. Please bring a table or decorate your vehicle and help make wonderful memories for our kids!” Community response has always been good but planning and booth location assignments by the Museum are facilitated when folks register.
Please call Shonna Moss is you’d like to participate in this family-friendly event. Call 318-628-0169.
Revelers on Halloween evening are reminded that a good starting point is always the Costume Contest for all ages, set at the Museum. There will be six age groups plus Theme Groups and Pets divisions. Hotdogs and chips provided by the Methodist Church, Family Church and First Assembly will be served at the Methodist Church.
The Pumpkin Decorating Contest will return to the Fall Festival, sponsored by the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office. There are four age categories in this kids-only contest (through age 18). Participants will need to use their own pumpkin and supplies for their painted (not carved) pumpkins. Entry time starts today and continues through deadline at 4:30 p.m. October 30 at the Sheriff’s Office in the courthouse.
A new children and youth event (ages 18 and younger) is the WPSO first annual (rubber) Duck Hunt. Little ducks of all colors and personalities will be hidden in plain sight (no digging necessary) along Main Street from the Methodist Church to the Museum. “There will be no shortage of ducks to find,” says organizer Kelley Holmes, civil tax deputy for the department, pointing at a large plastic bin filled with them. The duck hunt begins at daylight, October 29.
“We are asking participants to limit themselves to five ducks in order to allow as many as possible to take part,” she added. “Hunters will turn in their ducks during the downtown Truck or Treating at the Sheriff’s booth by the Courthouse to get your prize. There will be four distinctively-marked ducks that will earn special prizes for the finders.”
One more thing: for the “babies (ages under 5), hidden will be clear mini-ducks. Not available to the older children, these will be keepsakes for the tikes.
