Carved pumpkins are lit nightly at 250 W. Main St., Greenfield.
Maribeth Vaughn | [email protected]
GREENFIELD – Pumpkins will glow nightly in downtown Greenfield and churches and towns will host free community events with candy galore leading up to Halloween.
The Jackolantern Festival runs nightly from 7-9 p.m. at the James Whitcomb Riley Boyhood Home and Museum. The gardens of the home will be aglow with dozens of pumpkins carved by local community members. Take a free stroll from now to Oct. 31 at 250 W. Main St. Greenfield. Vote on your favorite pumpkin as people from three age categories will get a prize in the joint community project between the Hancock County Arts and the home.
Refreshments are served nightly in Lizabuth Ann’s Kitchen where spooky but beautiful Halloween art by HCA artists will be on display. Nine painted goblins by artist Sandy Hall will be lurking in the gazebo.
Come Oct. 28 to take photos by a vehicle reminiscent of the “Ghostbusters” movie.
Here’s a look at the other festive events happening in Hancock County:
Oct. 26
-Trick or Treat for Riley: The annual community Halloween event at Greenfield-Central High School is 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 26. Face painting, games, haunted houses and more will be hosted throughout the school by various clubs and organizations. Cost is free but student council members will collect free-will donations for Riley Hospital for Children. The high school is at 810 N. Broadway St., Greenfield.
-Trunk or Treat: Annual event hosted by Greenfield Parks and Recreation is expanding this year to the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds, 620 Apple St., Greenfield, from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26.
-Track or Treat: Mt. Vernon High School Athletic Boosters will host its third annual event from 6:30-8 p.m. at the high school track at Hancock Health Stadium, 8112 N. 200W., Fortville. The boosters will be collecting canned foods and nonperishable items for the local food pantry. Participants should not wear masks or accessories that resemble blood or weapons.
Oct. 27
-Hank’s Halloween Spooktacular: Hancock Health’s version of Trunk or Treat offers treats and family fun in the parking garage of Hancock Regional Hospital, 801 N. State St., Greenfield from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27.
-Trunk ‘n Treat, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Philadelphia campus of Mt. Comfort Church, 2265 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield.
Oct. 28
-Treats on Main and FARM Community Fair: Join downtown Fortville merchants and the Fortville Area Resource Mission for festivities, including games and treats for children, costume contest and parade and fall photos 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 28 in downtown Fortville.
-Harvest Hoedown: Brookville Road Community Church will feature games, inflatables, giveaways, face painting and more from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at 7480 W. U.S. 52, New Palestine.
-Trunk or Treat Trail: Bradley United Methodist Church, Greenfield Christian Church and downtown businesses will host a free event in downtown Greenfield from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Bradley’s event will be in the south parking lot at the corner of Main and Pennsylvania streets; Greenfield Christian’s event will be south of the church. In case of inclement weather, events will be hosted inside the churches.
-Monster Mash Dash and Trunk or Treat: Families United for Support and Encouragement invites the disability community to join in all-ages fun from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 28 at 5999 W. Memory Lane, Greenfield. The event will include a chili dinner, treats, bounce houses, dancing and costume contest with prizes.
-Fall Fest: Hayrides, bounce houses, free food, trunks with candy, face painting, and more will be at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 28 at 994 N. 600E., Greenfield.
-Haunted School: New Palestine Junior High School will host its first event from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 28, including indoor trick-or-treating, haunted hallways, bounce houses, carnival games and a book fair. The school is located at 2279 S. 600W., New Palestine.
-Trunk-or-Treat: Greenfield First Church of the Nazarene offers candy, tractor rides, farm animals, soups and chili from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 28 at 1980 S. State St., Greenfield.
Oct. 29
-Candypalooza: event for children of all ages will include games and candy at Realife Church’s Sunday morning services, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Oct. 29, 971W. U.S. 40, Greenfield.
-Trunk or Treat: Woodland Terrace of New Palestine will host an event with music, food, hayrides and face painting from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 29 at 4400 Terrace Drive, New Palestine.
-Trunk or Treat: Greenfield Elks Lodge will host a community trunk or treat from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 29 at 820 S. State. St., Greenfield.
-Town of McCordsville’s Trunk or Treat: the McCordsville community event takes place from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29 at Outlook Church, 6531 N. 600W., McCordsville.
-Fall Festival for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families, 4-6 p.m. at Wilkinson Church of Christ, 7293 N. State Road 109, Wilkinson. Includes food, cake walk, games, petting zoo, bingo and candy.
-Fall Festival, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at New Palestine Bible Church, 5954 W. County Road 300S, New Palestine. Includes roasting hotdogs and smores over a campfire, a cupcake walk, hayrides, photo booth, bounce house, obstacle course, and “best pumpkin” contest with prizes.
-Trunk & Treat, 5-7 p.m. at New Palestine United Methodist Church, 3565 S. County Road 500W, New Palestine.
Oct. 31
-Trunk or Treat: Annual event hosted by Calvary Baptist Church is set for 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at 1450 W. Main St., Greenfield.
-Trunk or Treat, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Fortville Church of the Nazarene parking lot, 701 S. Maple St., Fortville. Features treats outside from decorated vehicles, and warm soups and drinks such as hot chocolate and cider inside in the family center.
-Trunk or Treat, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Living Streams Community Church, 7061 N. County Road 700W, McCordsville. Candy will be passed out at vehicle trunks in the church parking lot by costumed volunteers.
-Trunk or Treat, 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Trinity Park Church, 207 W. Park Ave., Greenfield.
