The 9th annual Stuart Spooktacular is set to be held Thursday, October 31 on Main Street in Stuart from 5:30-8 p.m. Presented by One Family Productions, the event is in partnership with the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, Patrick County Tourism, Adcock Veterinary Orthopedic Solutions, Clark Gas & Oil, and the Town of Stuart.
Sarah Wray, chairman of the planning committee, said the event began as an opportunity to create a free and family-friendly Halloween celebration. Families are invited to visit Main Street dressed in their costumes and trick or treat at the various booths set up.
“We have been really fortunate over the years. We’re seeing the same trend this year of great community support from businesses and organizations who sign up to give out free candy and non-candy-based items to really create an inclusive environment for folks on Halloween,” she said.
“We also have a range of inflatables and games, live performing artists that are either roaming the street and/or setting up specific performances, one of which is our fire performance by Imagine Circus that seems to be a crowd favorite every year,” she said.
A table decorating contest is scheduled for businesses and organizations, Wray said, adding the chamber will award a prize to the winner.
The group also is working with the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department on potentially hosting a jack-o’-lantern carving event prior to Spooktacular, “so, families can have a chance to carve their own pumpkin and then display it for folks to enjoy,” she said.
Several food vendors will be on site including Pickle & Ask, Buckin’ Good Eats & Lemonade, LLC, and Bootleg BBQ from Floyd, Wray said, adding that she expects over 1,500-2,000 will visit the event.
“They’re not there all at one time obviously,” but visitors tend to “kind of trickle in, spend some time there, and then kind of move onto other activities as well. We typically see Main Street full of people, and obviously the weather plays a big part of that, so we’re hoping for nice, cool weather with dry skies,” she said.
Wray said typically 40-50 businesses and organizations will set up along Main Street for Spooktacular. Currently, two-thirds of that are registered for the event, and applications are accepted until October 28.
“If we get them later in the week, we’ll do our best to build them into our lineup, but just to help us plan, October 28 is our tentative goal,” she said.
Those interested can visit the chamber’s website or call (276) 694-6012.
