Sanders County locals celebrate Halloween

Danielle Switalski

One day shy of the Harvest moon, Halloween night had an eerie chill to the air as the moon shone bright with constant clouds moving quickly over it.  Children of all ages flooded the streets of Hot Springs and Plains for Halloween activities and trick-or-treating.

With a fire to keep warm and a plethora of hot dogs to roast, Plains Lion’s Club had their annual weiner roast and costume contest in Fred Young Park.

The Lion’s Club went through 230 hot dogs Saturday evening.  First place winner was three-year old Jamyson Timm who was dressed as a pumpkin with green hair.  Jamyson took home a $50 savings bond.  In second place was Emilia Rivinius, 7-months old, who was dressed in a little hippy outfit.  Emilia won $10 for her constume.  In third place were Giada and Jacey Schall, ten month old twins dressed as flowers.

The spirits were roaming the streets in Hot Springs at the third annual Ghost Walk sponsored by the Hot Springs Artist’s Society and the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. 

“We were shocked that it’s such a thing that really went over great,” said Trudy Wigton, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. 

Local kids dressed in head to toe costume walked the streets of Hot Springs, going to local businesses for tricks and treats.  Businesses included the Symes Hotel, Popcorn Video, Wall St. Place, Circle Square Park and many others.  The evening also included a free haunted house at the VFW put on by Leslie Smith, owner of the Symes Hotel. 

“I do this because I’m a big kid and I love haunted houses,” said Smith.

The Valley Press took a tour of the Haunted house that was filled with spiders, a zombie baby, a mad scientist, a séance room, a graveyard and a skeleton that made the Valley Press scream with fright. 

Smith has been putting on free Haunted Houses since she moved to Hot Springs in 1997.  When living in Seattle, Smith said the Haunted Houses were always her favorite part of Halloween with her girls. 

The Ghost Walk concluded at the Senior Center where treats and apple cider awaited the children, as well as a costume contest with prizes.