Trick-or-Treat on the Square in Clarkesville was one of several local events that drew large crowds on Halloween. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
From cowboys to cowardly lions and just about everything in between, Halloween brought out the creative, fun side of Habersham Wednesday.
Thousands dressed up and showed up at events around the county. In Demorest, an estimated 1,400 people turned out for the city’s Spooktacular Halloween. The big draw was the haunted hayride. “People repeatedly stated they came for it,” says Demorest Mayor Rick Austin.
Austin says five years ago he and his wife, Jennifer, and two volunteer firefighters started the event. Since then it has steadily grown. The Piedmont College Theater Department has been a big part of that growth. Student volunteers help with games, s’mores, and face painting. They also put the ‘spook’ in the spooktacular family friendly event, scaring folks along the hayride route.
“Our staff, police department, and fire department had a big role in this,” Austin says. “It’s a big event for our little town and an awesome way for us to give back to our community!”
Downtown businesses in Clarkesville and Cornelia hosted hordes of Trick-or-Treaters. Clarkesville First United Methodist Church held a Trunk-or-Treat. So did some businesses located outside of Cornelia’s downtown district. They decorated vehicles and handed out treats in the town’s Historic Depot parking lot.
“It was fabulous! Very busy,” says Cornelia Community Development Manager Jessie Owensby. “About half of our businesses ran out of candy. Some ran out a couple of different times, myself included.”
Owensby estimates around 1,500 people turned out for Cornelia’s Halloween event which also included a costume contest. Hundreds have entered Now Habersham’s HABoween Costume Contest.
If you haven’t yet entered, there’s still time. Visit Now Habersham’s Facebook page for details.
