Elderton Halloween Party Gives Safe Alternative

by Jonathan Weaver

Elderton Borough may not offer trick-or-treating next week, but local volunteers are still offering plenty of candy.

Friday evening, the Elderton/Plumcreek Recreation Park Authority will hold their annual Community Halloween Party in the former-Elderton Junior/Senior High School gymnasium.

Committee Member Amanda Bartosiewicz said organizers originally held the Halloween party at Elderton Borough’s fire hall, but the event got so popular, it had to be moved to the high school. She estimated the event has been held at least since the turn of the century.

“Actually, how this got started was when it went around that people started putting pins and poisons in the candy to hand out to kids,” Bartosiewicz said. “They decided as a community that they really didn’t like the idea of trick-or-treating anymore – Elderton felt that it wasn’t safe to do that kind-of stuff anymore.

“What was also happening at that time was, it was not only kids that were dressing up, but it was adults dressing up, casing homes to break into – that was when we decided that this was the route to go.”

However, Bartosiewicz and other members hope attendance will pick back up from recent years after a change.

“We’re in a school now (West Shamokin) that has football teams and Friday night football games – we lose all our teenagers to the football games,” Bartosiewicz said. “This will be the last year we will be holding (a party) on Friday night. We’re going to shoot for Saturday from now on.

“(The Recreation Authority) was drawn into this, so we have to change to accommodate them. I mean, you can’t change your football games.”

Bartosiewicz won’t even be able to attend the Halloween party because of West Shamokin’s final football game of the season. Her grandsons, Jacob and Christian Sharp, used to dress up for the party, but now are in the high school band.

The Elderton High School drama club used to sponsor a free “haunted hallway” or “haunted courtyard.”

Drop-boxes are located throughout town for residents or businesses to donate candy to give treat bags to all children or for the annual “candy toss.”

Recreation Park members also give drinks to all children and are planning for their annual “stuffed animal walk” – similar to a cakewalk or carnival game.

“The community still likes to be involved, but they don’t really like people coming into their homes,” Bartosiewicz explained. “I think every kid walks out of the school with at least one stuffed animal – if not two or three.”

Preschool or elementary winners of the coloring contest and the costume judging will also be announced at the party. Costume winners will be given a monetary coin and a trophy, but costume judging begins promptly at 6:30PM.

For example, in 2011, nearly 700 people showed up in Elderton for their annual Halloween Bash.

In past years – including last year - nearly 300 treat bags of goodies were distributed to area children participating in the event.

Friday’s party is open to local families for a $1 donation to cover expenses.

“We are having it for the community, and to see the kids having fun. And that they do!”

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