HANCOCK COUNTY —Halloween has become the most celebrated American holiday. Although costume-clad kids still go door-to-door begging for candy, alternative Halloween events for all ages fill the calendar. Here are just a few:
Run in the Monster Dash
CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland Metropolitan Police Department and Healthy365 team up to sponser the 5K Monster Dash beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. A kids’ race will follow at 11 a.m. Participants can register on site for $20. All are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes, play games and take part in a silent auction. The route follows the Pennsy Trail beginning at the Cumberland Town Hall, 11501 E. Washington St. Proceeds benefit the Cumberland Care Unit. For more information, visit facebook.com/events/1018008555051578/.
Trunk or Treat — Trending
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HANCOCK COUNTY — Trunk or Treat events, popular with neighborhoods, churches, scout groups and community centers — are like pop-up Halloween celebrations. The adults get to dress up, decorate the trunks of their cars and pass out candy to kids, and the kids — well, they get to collect candy in a safe, contained area instead of going door-to-door in strange neighborhoods. Here is a list of local Trunk or Treat locations:
McCordsville Trunk or Treat — noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 at the McCordsville Town Hall parking lot, 6280 W. County Road 800N, McCordsville. Visit facebook.com/events/412909062667371/ for more information.
Free Greenfield Trunk or Treat — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Bradley United Methodist Church, 210 W. Main St., Greenfield. Trunks will be decorated outside, and rooms will be decorated inside the church. Attendees are welcome to enjoy a meal in the basement following the festivities. Visit Free Greenfield Trunk or Treat on Facebook for more information.
Trunk or Treat — 6 to 8 p.m., Oct. 26 at the Greenfield Elks Lodge, 820 S. State St., Greenfield. Event includes a bounce house and a promise of lots of candy. Visit facebook.com/events/435592747308766/ to learn more.
Hank’s Halloween Spooktacular — from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at Hancock Regional Hospital, 801 N. State St., Greenfield. Hancock Regional Hospital offers up its version of a safe trick-or-treat alternative with staff members in costume, activities, photo opportunities and allergy-safe treats. Visit Hank’s Halloween Spooktacular on Facebook.
Halloween Comic Fest Youth Party at Hometown Comics — Hometown Comics, 1040 N. State St., Greenfield, will host a youth Halloween party from 2 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 26. The event includes free crafts, snacks, games and comics. Register to attend at Hometown Comics.
Westland Friends Trunk or Treat — Westland Friends Church, 2892 S. County Road 700E, Greenfield. Trunkers arrive and bonfire begins at 6:30 p.m.; trick-or-treat begins at 7:30 p.m. Event includes games, costume contest, food, bonfire and wiener roast. Visit westlandfriendschurch.org for more information.
Wilkinson Fall Fling — Wilkinson Christian Church, 7293 N. State Road 109, Wilkinson, will host a Fall Fling from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25. The event is open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families and includes candy, food and inflatables. Admission is free. Visit wccin.org for more information.
Why should kids have all the fun?
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Main Street will host the adults-only Boos & Brews event from 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25. For $15 at eventbrite.com/e/boos-brews-2019-tickets-65933622239, get a VIP lanyard and enjoy food and drink specials at Boos & Brews establishments throughout town. Make purchases at three or more stops and receive a treat keepsake when you show your completed passport at the Boo Bash tent located in the Living Alley. Attendees can enjoy live music and craft beer under a heated tent from 7 to 10 p.m. and a costume contest at 9 p.m. Gift certificates will be awarded to the top male, female, couple and group costumes. For more information, visit greenfieldmainstreet.org.
GREENFIELD — Big Dog’s Pool Hall, 1028 W. South St., will screen “Beetlejuice” as its movie-of-the-month at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 18. A $6 registration fee includes all day pool play, unlimited popcorn and one drink. Visit bigdogspoolhall.com/ for more information.
Creepy camping opportunities
INDIANA — Many of Indiana’s state parks are having fall festival and Halloween events over the next two weekends. Locations including Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty), Brown County State Park (Nashville), Mounds State Recreation Area (Brookville), Ouabache State Park (Bluffton), Clifty Falls State Park (Madison) and Harmonie State Park (New Harmony), to name a few, offer a variety of activities such as games, haunted hay rides, pumpkin carving, decorated campsites and camper trick or treat. Visit calendar.in.gov for a complete listing of what the state sites have going on. Campsites can be reserved per availability at camp.in.gov.
Ghosts on the water
METAMORA — The Whitewater Canal offers spooky evening boat rides aboard the Ben Franklin III canal boat at 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19. The canal boat will be decorated in its Halloween finest, and a professional storyteller will entertain passengers with family-friendly ghost stories for $5 a passenger. The entire village of Metamora celebrates Halloween with decorations and Haunted Village walking tours Oct. 27. Visit Haunted Village of Metamora on Facebook.
