The annual Halloween-themed community event in Jefferson is happening on Thursday.

The festivities kick off at the Greene County Community Center for the Halloween Party from 3:45-5pm. Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Henry Pohlmeyer says this is always one of the most looked forward to events they do all year.

“This one is always an exciting time. Again, I’ve only done one in the past, but we had probably close to 200 kids turn out for this. So, there’s a lot going on there’s going to be activities, games, prizes, obviously candy.”

Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich says families will then head to the downtown square for Spook the Loop from 4:30-6pm, where businesses and organizations hand out candy.

Next, from 5-6:30pm, Jefferson Youth Services Librarian Bailey Mount invites families to the library for a skit called, “The Scariest Campfire Story You’ve EVER Heard!” by Ron Keres. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio, it is a story of a father and his two sons on a camping trip in the woods and it starts getting a little bit spooky. She explains they wanted a story that involves some theatrics and some interactions with the audience.

“It’s equal parts hilarious and just a little spooky. Not so spooky that it’s going to scare kids, because we would never do that, unless we were throwing some sort of haunted house, but not for this. We’re choosing more to focus on the silly, hilarious aspect, just kind of over the top with the ghosts the wwwhhoooo, and stuff like that just to make a silly and ‘scary’ sort of play that I think folks are really going to like.”  

To finish up the evening, Wetrich encourages everyone to go to the Greene County High School auditorium for a Halloween concert with the middle and high school bands from 6:30-7:30pm. He adds that everything on Thursday is free.