The days crossed off the calendar have finally made their way to end of October, leaving only a few days until Halloween.
Children are out picking the funniest or scariest costume they can find. Adults are debating whether they want to hand out lollipops or chocolate bars. Various venues are preparing to host their Halloween festivities.
Although Halloween still remains an exciting day for some, it’s as though a little bit of the spirit drifts away each passing year.
There are those who have never found themselves bothered to get into the Halloween spirit. Perhaps they don't like dressing up to be someone they aren’t for one night. Maybe they don’t believe in fear for fun. It’s possible they don’t enjoy handing out candy to strange children.
However, over the past several years even those who counted down the days before the frightful night seem to be losing interest.
The number of undecorated houses in communities today is enough to wilt the spirit of any aspiring ghost or goblin. Are decorations more expensive now than they have been in the past? Or could it be that we find ourselves too busy with our lives that we don’t have the time to decorate?
Gone are the days when every house on the street is covered in cobwebs and riddled with jack-o-lanters. Chilling music wafting creepy notes and howls across a lawn graveyard is unheard of now. Many households find they don’t have enough trick-or-treaters to justify buying that $15 bag of sweets.
If Halloween is in danger of eventually becoming a distant memory, Barrhead is certainly putting up a good fight. Though there may be less trick-or-treaters around town than there used to be, and but a few houses remain decorated, thousands are still flocking with great enthusiasm to the annual Pumpkin Walk.
Returning for the sixth year, the community shows no signs of losing interest in the spooktacular event.
You can’t go wrong with an event catered to all ages. Students, particularly from the elementary school, are able to see the jack-o-lantern they created for the pumpkin path. Let’s not forget the proud parents who can see the work of their children lighting the way.
With a scary section of the path specifically created for those brave individuals seeking a night full of fright, the event leaves no one behind.
Not only is it a time for the younger people of Barrhead to show off their costumes and get a taste of Halloween, it’s also an opportunity to support the community, get to know some local businesses, and donate to worthy causes.
Maybe there’s hope for keeping the spirit alive after all.
