Halloween is Sunday and there are plenty of community events coming up between now and then that offer activities and a chance to go trick-or-treating in a safe, controlled environment.
One of those is today’s Spookfest in Rushville, which begins downtown at 5:30.. Spokesman Becky Hallar says the event is actually returning to its traditional form this year.
Hallar says for most kids, the highlight will be Trunk or Treat.
Rushville Spookfest also has Halloween Art, a selfie station eyeball spoon races, and at 6:30 a costume contest at the Plains Theater.
Chadron was the first area community with Trunk or Treat, but Northwest Nebraska Tourism Director Kerri Rempp says it’s not alone anymore, not even in Dawes County.
The Trunk judged to be the best will bring its owner a doughnut breakfast, courtesy of the sponsoring Chadron Kiwanis Club
Paired once again with the Chadron Kiwanis Trunk-or-Treat is the annual Chili Cook Off at the Fire Hall, sponsored by the Chadron City Employees Association.
Rempp says that although the Cookoff and Trunk-or-Treat are at the same time, 5:00-7:00 pm, they’re only a little over 2 blocks apart and everyone should attend both.
Rempp says the Chili Cookoff is NOT intended to be a serious competition, so all the teams have been encouraged to dress up and have fun. Although it runs until 7:00, many of the teams begin running out of chili around 6:30.
Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for kids. The proceeds go to support the Chadron VFD with Modern Woodman matching that amount this year.
Preceding Trunk-or-Treat and the Chili Cookoff at 4:30 is the FCCLA Puppy Pageant at the Downtown Plaza. Owners planning to enter their dogs are asked to arrive by 4:15.
The entry fee is $10 and there will be prizes for the top 3 placers, but all proceeds will go to Friends of Pets and there will be a donation box for the group at the Plaza as well.