Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff | Posted: Monday, October 8, 2007 11:00 pm
|
RAPID CITY - Let
the trick-or-treating begin.
The Citywide Safe
Halloween Carnival is back on track for Oct. 31, and organizers say
it will be bigger and better than ever.
"We have more
people helping," said carnival committee treasurer Sandi Moss.
"Everybody has finally realized that it's not something that's just
going to happen."
After 25 years of
providing games and treats to thousands of little ghosts and
witches, last year's carnival was cancelled due to a lack of
donations.
It costs about
$8,500 to put on the free annual event, which began as a safe
alternative to outdoor trick-or-treating. Much of that money goes
to buy candy and prizes for the 15,000 to 18,000 children who
attend.
This year's
Citywide Halloween Carnival will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Families
are encouraged to come in costume. There will be games, prizes, a
haunted house, photo booth and other activities.
Last year's
carnival cancellation got people's attention immediately, Moss
said.
"It's awesome.
People are really coming through," she said. "Maybe we should have
not had it a long time ago."
When architect Fred
Thurston read about last year's plight, he and his girlfriend,
Sherry Symyczak, volunteered their support. He designed seven new
carnival games, then asked local contractors if they would build
them.
"I haven't had a
single contractor say no," said Thurston, who remembers taking his
own daughter to the carnival 20 years ago.
Not all donations
come in the form of cash. Party America has donated lots of prizes,
while the Taffy Shop in Keystone sells taffy below cost for the
carnival. Local bakeries, including Piece of Cake, Jerry's Cakes
& Donuts, grocery stores and restaurants, will provide cakes
and pies for the cake walk.
That's a popular
game, Moss said, because kids love winning an entire pie or cake to
take home and share with their families.
"It's something to
see the smile on the face of a 5-year-old walking around with a
full sheet cake," she said.
But while the
carnival will go on, the Citywide Safe Halloween Carnival still
needs your help. Organizers say they still need about $2,500,
mostly to buy candy and photos. Corporate sponsors are great (a
$250 donation includes space for a banner), but community members
are the ones who make it work.
"It's the $25 and
$50 that really adds up," Moss said. "Every little bit
helps."
Volunteers are
needed to help at the carnival and to refurbish carnival games.
Donations of materials and paint - especially in bright colors -
are also needed.
The committee meets
at 7 p.m. Tuesday nights. On Oct. 16 the group will meet at 517 7th
St. On Oct. 23 and 30, the committee will meet in Room 102 of the
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Anyone can attend.
Contact Heidi Bell
Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com
If you
go
What: Citywide Safe
Halloween Carnival
When: 5 p.m. to 8
p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31
Where: Rushmore
Plaza Civic Center
