Ghosts and goodies
Halloween events on tap for this weekend
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Taylor Green, left, hangs out with Tammy Elliott and Michael Elliott at the Cedar Recovery booth at the Clinton Halloween Party at the Community Center in 2024. This year’s party will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the center. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Nova Walker, a.k.a. Wednesday Addams, finds a bounty of candy during last year’s Trunk-or-Treat event at SL Tennessee. - G. Chambers Williams III
Although Halloween isn’t officially until Friday, Oct. 31, spooky-season events are already underway, and will continue in various locations until Halloween night, which will be the official neighborhood trick-or-treat date this year.
The Little Ponderosa Zoo and Wildlife Rescue is among groups and communities with Halloween-related activities planned, which also will include events in Norris, Rocky Top, Oak Ridge and Clinton.
“Trick or Treat at the Little Ponderosa,” which kicked off last weekend, will return this Friday and Saturday from 6-8 p.m.
“Dress up and come out to trick or treat in our spooky zoo,” says a post on the zoo’s website and Facebook page. “Lots of animals, fun, and candy.
Tickets are $8 at the door the night of each event.
Also coming up this weekend is the sixth-annual Norris Halloween Trail, to be held from 3:30-6 p.m. Saturday, starting outside the Norris Community Center at 20 Chestnut Drive.
It’s described as a spooky tour for kids through the woods around the Norris Disc Golf Course, which is next to the Community Center.
A mild hike with Halloween-style decorations, treats and “spooky fun,” it will include more than 20 “stations” where kids can stop for an activity and treat, including such spots as the “Haunted Doghouse.”
Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. There will be treats available, as well as food trucks in the parking lot.
Registration is required for the Halloween Trail, and can be done through the Norris Recreation Commission’s Facebook page or at NorrisHalloweenTrail.Eventbrite.com.
The event is free, but space is limited.
There were more than 500 participants and volunteers on the trail last year, the Recreation Commission said in a recent Facebook post.
n Clinton: SL Tennessee will hold its annual Trunk or Treat event at the plant, 278 Frank Diggs Drive, from 5-8 p.m. this Saturday. There will be candy and inflatables for the kids.
n Clinton: On Sunday (Oct. 26), Clinton kicks off its spooky season with its seventh-annual trick-or-treat party from 2-5 p.m. at the Community Center on South Hicks Street.
Open to all, this free family-friendly event will include food trucks, inflatables, a petting zoo, ax throwing, family photos, and a sensory room.
n Rocky Top: Several local churches have joined to set up a Halloween “trunk-or-treat” event to be held from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the George Templin Memorial Field.
Zack Green, a former city councilman, and Jackie Byrge, children’s director at Rocky Top’s Main Street Baptist Church, planned the event. Green is youth pastor at Andersonville First Baptist Church.
“People are welcome to come to participate in the trunk-or-treat, but they must set up before 5:30 p.m.,” Green said. “That’s for the safety of the kids who will be walking around during the event.”
n Oak Ridge: The Recreation and Parks Department will host the Children’s Halloween Party on Friday (Oct. 24) from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
This annual event is expected to draw hundreds of children and their parents,
Activities will be held throughout the western fields of A.K. Bissell Park, including a hayride, weather permitting. Parking is available at the west parking area near the Recreation Center and on the east side near the Oak Ridge Library at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
To help ensure a smooth event, the west side parking area will be filled first.
Traffic in front of the Recreation Center will flow in one direction exiting onto the Turnpike from the east side parking area.