Hometown Halloween returns Oct. 30

Arlington’s Hometown Halloween traditions will return this year on Oct. 30 with many popular activities returning to the downtown this year.

Many familiar events will be held including the pumpkin roll, the costume contest and the pumpkin carving contest.

“We have a lot of the traditional events,” said Diane Krieg, executive director of the Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce and one of the organizers of the event.

The annual Halloween event brings family fun to the downtown area.

“I think people like the traditions of it,” said Krieg.

When Arlington Hardware said they couldn’t run the pumpkin carving contest this year because of pandemic safety reasons, other groups were able to help bring it back, said Krieg.

“I’m glad we were able to keep it and move it outside,” she said.

Pumpkins can be dropped off on Oct. 29 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Depot in Legion Park, or on Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Legion Park gazebo. Judging begins at noon on Oct. 30. Painted pumpkins are also welcome and anyone can enter.

“We have many different categories that people can enter,” said Krieg.

Prizes for age groups will also be provided.

At Legion Park there will also be a Zumba class at 9 a.m., the Arlington Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a performance from the Arlington School of Dance at 12:30 p.m.

The traditional trick-or-treating will return in a modified form.

“We will have trick-or-treating at the Farmers Market and then at some of the local merchants. It is up to each vendor if they want to participate,” said Krieg.

The trick-or-treating at businesses will not be as expansive as previous years, said Krieg, but they are providing additional trick-or-treating at the market to make up for it.

The pumpkin roll will be held at the downtown 3rd Street hill again from 11 a.m. to noon., which allows kids to roll their pumpkins down the hill and race them against other local kids.

Krieg said the pumpkin roll is one of her favorite parts of Hometown Halloween each year.

In addition, the Arlington Arts Council will again be holding a costume contest at the Legion Park stage which will begin at 1 p.m.