Chilly weather proved no match for the hordes of goblins, ghouls, princesses and bunny rabbits that descended on Newton County Thursday as children throughout the county celebrated Halloween.
In Decatur, lines of costumed children and adults wrapped around downtown, stopping at booths set up by local businesses, community groups and political candidates handing out candy to children.
Mark Buntyn, president of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the yearly event, said even a wind chill of 39 degrees couldn’t keep the trick-or-treaters away.
“We dodged the rain, so that’s good. It’s a little cool, but it’s Halloween. It’s supposed to be,” he said.
Decatur Treat Street has been held each year for so long it has become tradition, Buntyn said. In some towns, children plan to go trick-or-treating through their neighborhoods. In Decatur, they come downtown.
Each year’s Treat Street draws hundreds of children from Decatur and the surrounding county, bringing everyone together for a safe and fun trick-or-treat. Local businesses, civic groups and East Central Community College also participate in festivities each year, handing out candy and meeting new people.
It’s an event Decatur residents look forward to year round.
“We started doing it years ago, and now people just kind of assume it’s gonna be here,” Buntyn said.
Children in Newton also had a gathering point for their trick-or-treating Thursday with the annual Trick-or-Treat at the Depot.
The event, sponsored by the Newton Chamber of Commerce, is held each year at the Historic Newton Depot. Booths are set up allowing trick-or-treaters to gather candy from multiple locations across the Depot grounds.
Volunteers from the community and Chamber, manned the booths handing out candy and taking photos with children and parents who came to the event.
This year, Emily Pugh, director of the Newton Chamber, expected more children than in previous years, in part due to other Halloween events being cancelled. She said Monday she was proven right.
“I think it was wonderful,” she said. “It was very well received. We served around 300 kids or so.”
Trick-or-treaters were also invited to stop in at the Dollar General in Newton or the McElroy-Hoye House, both of which were stocked with candy and ready for Halloween visitors.
Trick-or-treat opportunities were also available in Hickory, Union and the Newton County High School.
