Scores of tricking, treating events pop up all over Howard County

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Perhaps years of retail stores stocking shelves with Halloween costumes and decorations several weeks before the holiday has had an influence, because in Kokomo, the spooky day has become a spooky month.

The City of Firsts is in love with Halloween, and that affair has been apparent since the opening days of October. It all kicked off with First Friday, which featured witches, ghosts, superheroes, princesses, and all sorts of fanciful, fictional figures.

Brought together by the Kokomo Downtown Association, the celebration consumed the courthouse square and a couple of adjoining streets. There was food, live music, artistic displays, and plenty of early Trick-or-Treating.

Days later, the Kokomo Family YMCA got into the act with its annual Halloween Hustle 5K. Leaning into the “Stranger Things” theme, the community organization welcomed ghouls and goblins to run alongside none other than Batman himself to avoid the “Upside-Down” that had taken over the facility.

The day featured a “Monster Mini” race for the kids, along with plenty of Trick-or-Treating, a bounce house, plenty of food, a live DJ, and a costume contest. And each of the 5K runners who registered in time received a t-shirt and a medal for participating.

The chills and creepiness continued in the city’s Crown Point Cemetery as the Howard County Historical Society resurrected several prominent citizens from days gone by.

The Cemetery Walk sold out every tour of the graveyard, as participants listened to long-forgotten stories from notables such as former Mayor Henry Cole and automotive pioneer Elmer Apperson.

Halloween continued its stranglehold on Kokomo over the weekend as Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union hosted its free Community Halloween Party. Scores of skeletons, shades, and spookies gathered in Solidarity’s Southway Boulevard lot for Trunk-or-Treating, face painting, caricatures, and inflatables.

The event also included a special visit from Bluey, Bingo, and Stitch, as well as rides in the back of a monster truck that spun about the lot, eliciting screams and squeals.

All of that, and there are still nearly two weeks before the big day, which means even more costumed crusaders, chocolates, and candy to come.

In Russiaville, the Kokomo Howard County Public Library has constructed a Fall Straw Maze, which is available to wander through until the end of the month. And the library has concocted a wide array of Halloween haunts during Fall Break week for Kokomo-area schools.

Today, “Little Monsters” from toddlers to pre-teens can dig through play dough to create their own personal monsters in Russiaville from 10-11 a.m. And the main branch in downtown Kokomo will allow kids to perform their own creepy, crawly experiments from noon until 2 p.m. as part of its FrankenSTEM program.

The library offers a little lighter fare on Tuesday downtown. From noon until 1 p.m., kids ages 3-13 can paint a pumpkin. And on Wednesday, the library’s south branch will offer little ones a chance to frolic with Bright Beats and Bubbles from 10-11 a.m. Of course, costumes are encouraged.

Wednesday afternoon starts a deluge of Trunk-or-Treat events with Indiana Health Centers, 3118 S. Lafountain St., offering candy and fun from 3:30-5 p.m. And just down the street at Aperion Care, 3118 S. Lafountain St., even more free candy can be scored from 5-7 p.m.

Things get really intense on Fri., Oct. 25, as Halloween really comes into its own in Kokomo. The library will host another round of pumpkin painting in Russiaville from 10-11 a.m., and Temple Baptist Church’s Kokomo Corn Maze continues operation. The 10-acre labyrinth, located at 1700 S. Goyer Road, is open Friday and Saturday from 5-7:30 p.m. The event includes hayrides, barrel train rides, mini golf, and more free activities.

The grown-ups get a little frightful entertainment on Friday evening as Kokomo Civic Theatre puts on the first of three performances of “Little Shop of Horrors,” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Repeat performances take place Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at www.kokomocivictheatre.org.

For those looking for something a little more raucous, Rhine Hall Events will host a pair of performances of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The Rhine Hall troupe will celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a fully immersive experience that allows the audience to be a part of the action. Tickets are available for both shows at www.rhinehallevents.com.

Halloween takes over Greentown on Sat., Oct. 25, as the entire community celebrates a day of “Ghouls and Goblins.” Local businesses and civic organizations will participate in Trick-or-Treating, and the Scarecrow Walk along the Comet Trail will get heavy traffic. The festivities run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Ascension St. Vincent, 1907 W. Sycamore St., will hold its own Trunk-or-Treat event on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. In addition to the traditional seasonal offerings, the hospital will offer safety and nutritional education, a costume contest, and a visit from the Indianapolis Colts.

Woodland Church of God, 3401 S. Webster St., will hold a Harvest Festival for those who want to celebrate the season without so many scares. From 2-5 p.m., the church will feature carnival games, a photo booth, and plenty of candy for the kids.

Saturday also sees the City of Kokomo get into the Halloween act. The Parks and Recreation Department’s Monster Mash Bash takes over Jackson Morrow Park, 4200 S. Park Road, from 3-6 p.m. There will be a bounce house, face painting, hayrides, costume contests, and of course, Trick-or-Treating galore.

At 6 p.m., the Witching Hour arrives early at Jackson Morrow, as the Haunted Trail Walk opens just south of the Kirkendall Nature Center. Expect jump scares, flashing lights, and plenty of fog. These events are free to the community.

Trick-or-Treating continues from 5-7 p.m. at the Markland Mall Candy Crawl, as the businesses turn out to give away Halloween treats. And Generations Automotive, 510 Albany Dr., will hold a Trunk-or-Treat Cruise-In from 5-8 p.m. All makes and models of vehicles are welcome to participate.

But wait! There’s more!

Next week is the home stretch for Halloween fun. The library will hold a Spooktacular Story Time on Mon., Oct. 27, from 10-11 a.m. in Russiaville. And the Howard County Sheriff’s Office will host its third annual Trunk-or-Treat in its parking lot at 1800 W. Markland Ave. from 5-7 p.m.

On Thu., Oct. 30, the library will host a Tea Rex Tea Party from 10-11 a.m. in Russiaville. Kids ages 0-5 will get to share treats with a T-Rex. Later that afternoon, the Center Township Trustee’s Office, 213 E. Jefferson St., will hold a Trunk-or-Treat event from 5-7 p.m., which will include a touch a fire truck experience, sponsored by Meijer.

Silver Birch Living of Kokomo, 408 S. Washington St., will hold its own Trunk-or-Treat event from 4:30-6 p.m., where costumes are encouraged, but not required. And then its back to the downtown library, 220 N. Union St., for a session with the Kokomo Filmmakers Group as they discuss costume design from 6-7:30 p.m. Register for this event by visiting www.khcpl.org and clicking on Events.

And finally, Halloween arrives on Oct. 31 with loads of Trick-or-Treating in every corner of Howard County. The City of Kokomo has established Trick-or-Treat hours from 5-9 p.m. Residents are asked to limit their children to these hours and to leave their porch lights on while they are handing out treats.

Participants are encouraged to carry flashlights, wear reflective clothing, and remain in well-lit areas whenever possible.

There will be a Candy ‘n Campers event at Stellhorn RV & Camping, 3116 W. Boulevard, from 4-6 p.m. And the library will hold a Trick-or-treat evening in Russiaville from 5-8 p.m.

Phew! That’s a lot of candy and costumes!

See additional photos from First Friday, the YMCA’s Halloween Hustle, the Historical Society’s Cemetery Walk, and the Solidarity Community Halloween Party on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.