Little ghosts and goblins will have a couple chances to practice their trick-or-treat technique before they make their way out for this year’s annual candy hunt.

Saturday, October 28, 2000

Little ghosts and goblins will have a couple chances to practice their trick-or-treat technique before they make their way out for this year’s annual candy hunt.

The Ironton Business Association will sponsor its annual Safe Trick-or-Treat Night 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday at the Ironton City Center.

Businesses will line the city building to pass out treats to the steady stream of youngsters in costume, IBA officials said.

There is no cost to attend.

After the IBA’s trick-or-treat, the Ironton Rotary Club will sponsor the annual Ironton Halloween Parade, said Mike Hurley, chairman of the Rotary Club’s community service committee.

After collecting their booty from the IBA, children and their families will gather at Third and Center streets near the water fountain in downtown Ironton to prepare for the march, Hurley said.

Participants must be at the water fountain by 7 p.m. to receive a number for costume judging, he added. Ironton Lions Club members will handle the pinning duties and are also volunteering their services for the parade duties.

Hurley said the parade route will follow Third Street down to Vernon Street and turn right to Second Street, where it will end.

After the parade, ghosts and goblins will then have a chance to win a prize for the best costume.

"Participants must have a number to be judged," Hurley said. "When the parade ends at Second and Vernon streets, the participants will be moved over to the small parking lot adjacent to the city parking lot for judging."

He said Hecla Water is providing the judging stand for the event and all clowns, witches, ghosts will be judged in addition to the ugliest and the most original costumes.

Ames Department Store manager Paul Goebel said spectators are sure to see many fashionable costumes during the parade. Ames and other local merchants have been busy helping children prepare for not only the parade, but for Tuesday’s trick-or-treat night.

Goebel said several characters from the hit cartoon Power Puff Girls are popular among young girls.

"It seems like we haven’t been able to stock enough of Bubbles, Buttercup and Blossom," he said. "They’ve been real popular."

Characters from the movie "Toy Story 2" and Sky Dancers have also grabbed the attention among young trick-or-treaters, he said.

"Buzz Lightyear has been real popular this year," Goebel said. "The teens have been overwhelmingly attracted to costumes from the movie "Scream." The demand for costumes this year has been real steady."

Goebel said Ames volunteers will also pass out candy at Monday’s Safe Trick-or-Treat and then again on Tuesday now that the holiday costume rush is over.

"We won’t have much to mark down this year," he said.

On Saturday, he said his store gave out free trick-or-treat bags to the first 100 kids who filtered through the store in preparation for several Monday and Tuesday Halloween events.

In addition to the IBA’s Halloween eve event and the Rotary Club’s parade, the regular trick-or-treat night for Ironton, South Point, Athalia, Chesapeake, Proctorville and most of Lawrence County will take be Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In Aid, Waterloo and Arabia, little clowns and witches can start knocking on doors from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday.