Halloween fun ahead for Polk this weekend
The spookiest time of the year is upon us, and Polk County is becoming the place to go for frights and treats. Between trunk or treats, corn mazes, fall festivals, costume contests, and other Halloween inspired events, locals are sure to get their fill of the scariest holiday around.
Festival of Treats: One recurring Halloween tradition is Rockmart’s annual Festival of Treats which beckons citizens downtown for candy, kids costume contests, pet costume contests, face painting, and much more. This year’s festival is being hosted by the Rockmart Business Alliance, and Chick N’ Scratch Bakery will be handing out candy to passersby.
Citizens can head downtown on Oct. 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for an evening of everything Halloween. The festival is completely free and everyone from the vampires to the princesses are encouraged to attend.
Cedartown Trick or Treating: Cedartown is once again inviting the county’s ghosts and ghouls to the city’s downtown area on Halloween day from3:30 to 5:30 p.m. where businesses and locals will be handing out candy. Don’t let your child leave with his or her candy too early because there will be a costume contest beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the park in front of Court House 2. There will be a pet costume contest following immediately after.
Skydive Spaceland Halloween Boogie: Skydive Spaceland is in the process of organizing a holiday event titled “Halloween Boogie.” Polk’s daredevils looking for a real Halloween fright can visit the skydiving facility at 1195 Grady Road in Rockmart from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29 for three days of freefly and belly organizing, food and drinks provided by ‘On the Spot Cafe,’ live music on Saturday from band Red Georgia Clay, and of course sky diving.
“We’re wranglin’ organizers and brainstorming activities and reaching out to vendors to make this another epic Spaceland event,” owner Kevin Purdy said.
Spaceland is open from 8 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and the facility is open from 7:30 a.m. through sunset on weekends. Event registration is $25 and comes with a complimentary event t-shirt and a nonalcoholic drink from the cafe.
Old Timey Halloween Festival: First Methodist Church is hosting an old timey Halloween festival on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Cedartown’s Bradford St. The event is in nature a trunk or treat event where kids can go from car to car to get candy. Cars usually don Halloween decorations, and children are free to dress as anything they want.
“We’ll be having hayrides, games, prizes, hot dogs, smores, a bonfire, and a cake walk among other little events,” Broome said.
The event is completely free and the church is urging the whole family to come downtown and enjoy treats, costumes, and a traditional way of celebrating the holiday. The church has closed off a portion of Bradford St. for the festival to ensure the event is both large scale and safe.
Pine Bower Fall Festival: Pine Bower Baptist Church is adding another Fall Festival to Polk’s already strong lineup on Oct. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. Grab your favorite costume and head to Cedartown’s 100 Pine Bower Rd. for an evening of chili cook offs, hayrides, carnival games, a cake-walk, trunk or treating, and hot dogs available for a donation. Pastor Roger Kiser urges all to come.
Police Department Trunk or Treat: Polk’s police department is getting into the Halloween fun with a Trunk or Treat event at the department on 73 Clines Ingram Jackson Rd. in Cedartown on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Trick or treaters can grab candy from the trunks of the police cruisers.
First United Methodist Fall Festival: Alongside other local churches, Cedartown First United Methodist Church has plans to host a Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat event of their own. Candy seekers can visit the church at 201 Wissahickon Ave. in Cedartown from 6 to 8 p.m. for free.
Bellview Baptist Fall Festival: Bellview Baptist Church is offering their own take on a fall festival on Oct. 28 beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 2333 N. Bellview Road where the county’s youth are invited to take part in games, jump on inflatables, ride in hayrides, eat candy and popcorn, and much more. Like many other events, Bellview’s fall festival is entirely free
Halloween 2017 has almost too many options for Polk locals seeking to celebrate Halloween. Acquiring Halloween candy is safer than ever thanks to local trunk or treat and organized trick or treating, and costumes have been given a pedestal like never before with numerous costume contests available. Polk citizens are urged to visit some of these events and see what modern Halloween is all about.