Vandalia Hosts Halloween Hangout
This time of year, haunted houses, cornfield mazes, and ghost tours abound. For those who just want a fun family-themed Halloween party without the spooky chills, check out Vandalia Parks and Recreation’s Halloween Hangout on October 25. It will be held at the city’s Sports Complex at 1111 Stonequarry Road, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This isn’t the first year for the gathering, but the name and location have been changed. It was formerly held inside the Recreation Center, under the name Rock the Rec. This year, they decided to take advantage of the Center’s spacious grounds. According to Sara Moyer, Recreation Coordinator, the change in location will allow for more variety of activities for kids to enjoy.
“It’s been going on for three or four years, and was called Rock the Rec. We changed it to an outdoor event this year. It’s essentially the same event, but totally outdoors. We’ll have food trucks, hayrides around part of the complex, inflatables, and different kid activities, like games and crafts,” she said.
Despite a full calendar of festivals in the area, Moyer expects a good variety of vendors at the event. “We’ve had a lot of interest, and we’ll have some of the same vendors from our Fall Festival on October 11. There will be a lot of craft vendors, offering everything from jewelry to clothing items, plus lots of baked goods, cookies, and cakes. We expect a nice selection of food and beverage vendors as well.”
No Halloween party would be complete without something for the costumed beggars to put in their sacks, and this one is no different. “A lot of local businesses will be there to pass out candy for trick or treating. We’ll also have a costume judging contest. It’s open for all ages, but when we pick the winners, we try to pick some from each age group. We’ll have some fun Halloween treats, and some Rec Center swag and passes to give to the winners.”
The emphasis is on hosting a fun activity that kids of all ages can enjoy with their families, while bringing the community together. “It’s really more focused on the kids and trick or treating, but I think it’s great for the community to come out and celebrate Halloween, and get a taste of Fall.”
The Halloween Hangout will be held on Saturday, October 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vandalia Sports Complex, 1111 Stonequarry Road. It is free and open to the public. For more information visit vandaliaohio.org, or the Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page.
