At fall festival: Costumes and 'Goosebumps'

Thursday's third annual Fall Festival was a family affair, with ghosts, ghouls and a few goosebumps Thursday night at Spring Lake Park.

Pirates and princesses-in-pink whirled around a crisp fall breeze as the sun began to set over the annual fall event for the park.

"We had a big costume contest," said Tammie Moore, recreation coordinator at Texarkana Parks Department. Moore said she was pleased with the turnout this year.

Inflatable slides, bouncy castles, and pumpkin/face painting kept children entertained as the parks department and volunteers worked to prepare the sound stage for a movie in the park.

Hordes of parents and youngsters dressed as dogs, hippies, bears and green globs waited in line as a tractor rolled slowly by, pulling a trailer decorated with cobwebs and spooky lights.

Hayrides were popular for youngsters this year, one woman said.

Arkansas High School Seniors Emma Smith (a ballerina) and Allee Sterling (Minnie Mouse) said they were having fun volunteering and participating.

"We are representing Nike and the Interact Club," Sterling said.

Just before "Goosebumps" began, families and friends sat upon blankets and huddled together to stay warm.

"This is our first time to do a movie in the park," Tanisha Shavers said. Maliyah, 5; and Jakarron, 8, had just spread out their blankets as they got ready for the movie.

Jakarron said he got a lot of candy, smiling through vampire teeth, while Maliyah laid her head on the blanket.

"They got a lot of candy, but I have a feeling someone is going to go to sleep soon," Shavers said.

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