Halloween haunts, treats

The annual downtown Zebulon Trick or Treat celebration will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 starting around 6:30 p.m. as merchants and offices on the downtown square hand out candy and enjoy their costumed customers. ’One of the charms of our small town Halloween observance is the annual Trick or Treat celebration on the courthouse square,’ said Chris Curry of the Zebulon Downtown Development Authority. ’Because we’re in a rural area, house-to-house trick or treating doesn’t always work. So bring your little ones to Zebulon for Halloween frights and fun.’ Scarecrows of all sorts have sprung up at businesses and homes across Pike County. Some scarecrows reflect services offered at local businesses and some highlight popular fall features, such as pumpkins, hay bales and scarecrows. ’On the whole it’s a really great idea for downtown. It encourages people to come and walk the streets and visit local businesses,’ said county manager Mike Phillips. ‘A lot of the scarecrows are very creative, particularly the ones that are handmade. They really show how much consideration and creativity were put into them. We have one at United Bank waving to folks coming into town and one behind the commissioner’s office waving too. It’s kind of like they are welcoming everyone to our town.’There are around 25 scarecrow displays across Pike. Phillips hopes there will be twice as many next year and even more the year after. The winner of the scarecrow decorating contest will be announced Thursday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. by the Zebulon Downtown Development Authority.