A spooky witch at the Post handed out candy to little ghouls and goblins Monday. Post photo by J. Reed.

Balmy weather brought out kids of all ages to enjoy the annual Cedar Springs Main Street Spook-tacular put on by area businesses and non-profits Monday evening, October 31. There were spooky stories, carnival games, trunk-or-treat, a giant slide, cider and donuts, and lots of candy handed out by area businesses. A big thanks to the area businesses for organizing and underwriting the event.

There is a rumor that the trees come alive on All Hallow’s eve (Halloween) and cause a great deal of mischief in their neighborhoods, including snatching candy away from unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.  Aaron Piskin, of Pierson, sent us this photo he took of a tree, located on Pine Lake Avenue near 17 Mile, practicing its scary face for Halloween.  If you see a tree like this one on Halloween, don’t try to climb it and don’t play dead. Instead, run as fast as you can in the other direction and don’t look back!

Costume, check. Trick-or-treat bag, check. Comfortable walking shoes, check. Ready for a night full of fun? Double-check!
Pack up the kids and come out Halloween night for the Main Street Annual Halloween Spook-tacular in Cedar Springs! Sponsored by area businesses, the fun starts at 5 p.m. with a reading of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Perry’s Place, 90 N. Main, from 5-6 p.m. Kids can then pick up a trick-or-treat map from the Cedar Springs Library, at the corner of Cherry and Second, and trick-or-treat at businesses around town from 5:45 to 7 p.m. There are more scary stories at Alpha Omega Coffee and Games, 32 S. Main, from 6-7 p.m.; a carnival at the corner of Main and Ash put on by Calvary Assembly of God; trunk-or-treat at the Springs Church (corner of First and Maple) from 6-8, along with a 20-foot giant slide, puppet show, carnival games, and cider and donuts; and the Kent County Sheriff Traffic Squad, Cedar Springs Fire Department and Cedar Springs Police will hand out candy, cider and donuts at the firebarn at W. Maple and Second St. until gone.
The Post will hand out candy again this year, so please stop by and see us!

Proud grandparents Steve and Renee Fisk, of Trufant, brought in this cute photo they took of their granddaughter, Rillie Ann Fisk, 10 months old, of Coral. She appears to have popped right out of this pumpkin, just in time for Halloween!

1st Place
Age group 8-10

Nicole Vanderhoef
age 10
of Cedar Springs

1st Place
Age group 6-7*

Emily Neiderheide
age 6
of Cedar Springs

1st Place
Age group 3-5*

Rachel Neiderheide
age 5
of Cedar Springs

*Due to limited entries in the 3-4 year catergory, we changed the age groups to 3-5, 6-7, and 8-10.

Night owl walk
Oct. 29: Howard Christensen Nature Center is hosting a night owl walk in celebration of Halloween on Saturday, October 29, from 8-10pm. Walk a two mile guided night hike along a trail lit only by jack-o-lanterns. Listen to nature’s sounds of the night, like the Barn Owl—a nocturnal blood-curdling scream—screeching, possibly a bullfrog, and many other night sounds. This event is family-friendly, bring the whole brew. $5/adults, $4/students, $4/seniors, or $12/family. Located at 16160 Red Pine Drive, Kent City.

Trunk or Treat at Courtland-Oakfield UMC
Oct. 29: Courtland-Oakfield United Methodist Church is hosting Trunk or Treat on October 29, the Saturday before Halloween, from 6-8 p.m. for members of our community. Costumed children will trick-or-treat from automobile trunks, which will be parked in our front lot, followed by free refreshments of hot dogs, chips and pop served around the bonfire. Bring our lawn chairs, or sit on folding chairs from inside the church. In case of rain, everything gets moved inside (except the fire, of course). Call the church for more info at 866-4298. The church is located at 10295 Myers Lake Ave., Rockford, just south of 13 Mile Rd.

Harvest party at Cedar Creek Community
Oct. 29: Cedar Creek Community Church, located at 2969 – 14 Mile Rd NE, Sparta, will host a free harvest party on Saturday, October 29, starting at 5:30pm. They will have hayrides (straw-due to allergies), pumpkin painting, dunking for apples, pumpkin bowling, bounce houses, cake walk, games for all ages, face painting, trunk or treat, soup, hot dogs, popcorn, and lots of fun and fellowship. All are welcome to this free and fun event.

Halloween carnival in Sparta
Oct. 29: There will be a Halloween carnival from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, at the Sparta Fire Department, 36 Elmwood, Sparta.

Harvest party at Northside Community, Sparta
Oct. 30: Northside Community Church (next to Family Fare in Sparta) will hold a harvest party on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 6-8 p.m. with magician, balloon artists, bounce house, fire truck, games, crafts, hotdogs and more.

Halloween Spook-tacular
Oct. 31: Businesses in Cedar Springs are sponsoring the annual Main Street Halloween Spook-tacular on Monday, October 31. The fun starts at 5 p.m. with a reading of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Perry’s Place, 90 N. Main, from 5-6 p.m. Kids can then pick up a trick-or-treat map from the Cedar Springs Library, at the corner of Cherry and Second, and trick-or-treat at various businesses from 5:45 to 7 p.m. There are more scary stories at Alpha Omega Coffee and Games, 32 S. Main, from 6-7 p.m.; a carnival at the corner of Main and Ash put on by Calvary Assembly of God; trunk-or-treat at the Springs Church (corner of First and Maple) from 6-8; and the Kent County Sheriff Traffic Squad will hand out candy, cider and donuts at the firebarn at W. Maple and Second St.

Trunk or Treat at The Springs
Oct. 31: When kids are out trick-or-treating in Cedar Springs, they can swing by The Springs Church for Trunk-or-Treat from 6-8 p.m. There will be a puppet show, donuts & cider, carnival games, a 20-foot giant slide, decorated trunks & lots & lots of candy!  It will be fun for the whole family in a safe, well-lit environment for kids. The church is located at 135 N. Grant St., in Cedar Springs.

Family harvest celebration
Oct. 31: Pine Ridge Bible Camp will be holding its annual Family Harvest Celebration on Monday, October 31. Come anytime between 6-8pm to check out the decorated cabins and enjoy a night out with the family. This is a free family event that includes wagon rides, puppets, games, cider, treats and a trip through treat town for some candy. Pine Ridge is located just 5 miles east of town on 17 Mile Rd. Call 616-696-8675 for more information.

Spencer Fire Department
Oct. 31: The Spencer Township Fire Department will be handing out candy at the fire department from 5:0-8 p.m. The fire department is located at 12131 18 Mile Road, NE, Gowen.