HOULTON, Maine — The witches, druids and ghostly goblins are busy stitching up the final details for the downtown Houlton All Shire’s Eve festivities planned for next Friday.
Organized by the Community Impact Alliance, the Oct. 31 event includes a pumpkin pie eating contest, a vintage Michael Jackson “Thriller” flash mob, the annual Witches Walk and ending dance by the bonfire, karaoke and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 10 p.m.
Organizer Lilly Haggerty said it will be one of those made-for-movie events where the town comes alive for a beautiful, family-friendly festival.
It’s going to feel straight out of a storybook, she said.
“Don’t just watch it happen on TV this year, live it right here in historic downtown Houlton,” Haggerty said. “Tell your friends and your friends in neighboring towns to come celebrate with us. The magic is real.”
The Community Impact Alliance, a group of area businesses and community members that regularly meets at the Carleton Project to plan family-centered events for the town, started adding to the Houlton Halloween offerings last year with the first ever Jack-O-Lantern Trail event similar to those in larger U.S. cities.
And this year, it’s been incredible to see how many people and businesses have stepped up to make this a true community event, said Haggerty.
The witches’ walk and dance are bigger than ever and will start at the Chamber of Commerce, heading over to Riverfront Park for the traditional witches dance around a faux cauldron.
Andy’s IGA is providing the pies for the pumpkin pie eating contest and the Houlton School of Dance will lead the flash mob dance.
There’s a downtown candy giveaway, and local businesses, including Machias Savings Bank and the Northern Maine Development Commission, will participate with decorations and treats for hungry goblins. The best decorated business will win a $100 cash prize.
Additionally, there will be tarot readings, the Pines Grill food truck, and community displays of fire trucks, military vehicles, border patrol trucks, farm tractors, state police, and even a hearse from Bowers Funeral Home.
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will have local vendors participating downtown and at the end-of-night special feature, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” at the Temple Theater.
“It’s shaping up to be a lively, welcoming night for families, friends, and visitors full of photo ops, laughter, and that small-town Halloween magic we all love,” Haggerty said.
All Shire’s Eve is free and begins at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in Market Square.
This Saturday, Oct. 25, will be Houlton’s Spooktacular, a collaboration between the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, Houlton Recreation Department and Serendipitous Dragonfly. They will offer a progression of events starting at 10 a.m at the Temple Theater with a Halloween party and movie.
After the movie, the kids can move on to the Living Innovations haunted house, followed by goodies from businesses and individuals in Market Square. But the treats don’t end there. At Monument Park near the library, there will be trunks of treats, bucket trucks and law enforcement to add to the fun.
A bonus this year will be photographs taken by Redsup Photography in the Amphitheater and everything is free.
Correction: An earlier version of the story misstated the witches dance and the Northern Maine Development Commission.
