Rain dampens Falloween
Staff writer
Rain did not completely wash out Marion’s annual Falloween event Saturday, but several planned events were canceled.
Vendors and most events moved indoors to Marion Community Center.
Among them were face painting, a Marion High School musical sneak peek and a street dance.
A brief stoppage of rain at 5 p.m. allowed a kids and critters fashion show to take place at Central Park.
Canceled events included pumpkin olympics, hay maze, and hayrides.
Economic development director Megan Jones had a truck load of pumpkins for the pumpkin Olympics and will use them for other Halloween events.
This was about the fourth year of Falloween for Marion, Jones said.
“We thought this would be a good event for the community for this time of year,” she said.
Jones handled the face painting herself.
“Many kids get such a kick out of it,” she said. “I am an artist at heart and this is a way to add to the festival.”
United Ways community development director Sheila Kelley, and Bret Toews with K-State Extension were in charge of the show, in which about 10 children participated.
“This is our first year of doing this,” Kelley said. “We thought it would be great for both parents and children.
The idea was for kids to dress themselves and their household pets, Toews said, not for goats.
Skylar and Stoney Andres dressed themselves as skeletons and brought their goat, Stinky.
Top finishers received gift certificates for businesses in Marion.
Marion police officer Kaylan Miles explained to the public, especially kids, what police do.
Baked ‘Em owner Emmalee Brassfield also was a vendor.