Halloween coming to Cedartown and Rockmart on Monday
The goblins and ghouls will be out and about on Monday night following the weekend for the annual celebration of Halloween in Polk County.
Cedartown’s celebrations begin on Oct. 31 with the downtown trick or treating starting at 3:30 p.m. for children 12 years or younger. Local businesses will be out on the sidewalks of Main Street for the annual event, which will wrap up with a children’s costume contest starting at 5:30 p.m. in front of Polk County Courthouse No. 2.
The Dog Costume Contest sponsored by the Cedartown Humane Society will begin immediately following the end of the children’s costume contest.
Prizes will be given out in both events.
Rockmart will also be hosting their annual Festival of Treats in downtown along Elm and Marble
Streets, and several other locations within the business area.
The event is hosted by the Rockmart Busines Alliance.
Starting at 5 p.m., the streets will be full of youth for two hours.
Pets in Rockmart can also show off their fancy costumes with a 6:30 p.m. contest hosted by Precious Paws in front of their store.
The Ballet Garden will perform at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Rockmart History Museum on Marble Street.
Inflatables and the Tickled Pink Petting Zoo will also be on hand next to the Silver Comet Trail next to Southcrest Bank.
With the increased number of pedestrians trick-or-treating and party goers that could be impaired behind the wheel, it makes for a scary combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. In addition, NHTSA reported that 48 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities on Halloween night in 2012 involved a drunk driver.
Here’s some tips that will be useful to remember while either enjoying the holiday or taking the kids around to neighborhoods in Polk County to collect those loads of sweets:
• Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present. When providing directions to a party, try not to route guests through neighborhoods unnecessarily.
• Watch for children in the street. Watch for children walking on streets, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may not pay attention to traffic and cross mid-block or between parked cars.
• Slow down. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph. What seems like a small difference—just 10 mph—can be the difference between life and death
• Drive sober. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths resulting in an average of one death every 45 minutes. Always designate a sober driver if you plan to drink. Visit www.PreventDUI.AAA.com to learn more.
A few simple steps can help parents keep their trick-or-treaters safe, too:
• Trick-or-Treat together. AAA recommends that parents accompany young trick-or-treaters at least until the age of 12.
• Make a plan. Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan the route ahead of time. Remind children never to cross the street midblock or between parked cars.
• Check costumes. Choose disguises that don’t obstruct vision and opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Check and adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping and add reflective material or tape to keep kids visible.
• Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use appropriate car/booster seats and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle.