Ghosts, goblins and spooky fun fill Plains neighborhoods
TRACY SCOTT Valley Press | Valley Press-Mineral Independent | UPDATED 42 minutes AGO
Camp Bighorn climbing instructor Sydney Rice passes out candy in a unique way during the Plains School Trunk or Treat event. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Plains Mayor Chris Allen at the Plains School Trick or Treat event. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Plains Mayor Chris Allen hands out candy during the 4th annual Plains School Trunk or Treat celebration. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders with trick or treater Maggie McLellan. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Teacher Kati Mitchell with Superintendent Ryan Rettig and Elementary Principal Kevin Meredth during the Plains Trunk or Treat event. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Fireman Hudson Wehrman, 2, is one happy guy after receiving a cookie from Em's Cafe with his mom Kaylan McCrea looking on. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Oakley Weeks cooks hotdogs with her dad Jayden Weeks at the Lions Club cookout in Fred Young Park. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Plains Mayor Chris Allen is one of the judges at the Dental Park Food Contest Sponsored by the Plains Montana Event Association. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Cora Coonan, 7, gets her pumpkin ready for the contest. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Maggie McClellon, 6, at the leaf search game at the Alliance Church on Halloween. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Steve Spurr, president of the Plains Lions Club, at the Halloween hot dog roast and costume contest. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
The Great Pumpkin at the Sanders County Fairgrounds. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
2-year-old Forrest McPhee decides which face he wants to have painted with Emalee Bishop. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Community members in Plains went all out this year to celebrate Halloween, with two days of activities for children and families alike.
The weekend's festivities began with the 4th Annual Trunk or Treat event at Plains Elementary School. Nearly a dozen organizations filled the school's back parking lot with decorated vehicles, buckets of candy, and plenty of Halloween spirit.
Returning participants included Lyle Fisher and the Plains Community Ambulance crew, accompanied by their patient, Bones Jones; Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders; Camp Bighorn; Studs Building & Home; the Plains PTA; Em's Café; the Plains Police Department; Plains School Cafeteria workers; and the Sanders County Ledger. “It’s a good safe environment for the kids and I really enjoy it. This is the 4th year that I have done it,” Sheriff Fielders commented. He continued, “I like to see all the junior police officers that were coming through. I see the next generation coming up.”
New to the event this year were the owners of Iron Ox Excavating, who devised a unique and creative way to deliver candy to eager trick-or-treaters.
Elementary Principal Kevin Meredith commented, “It’s nice for the community to engage with our students. We get to on a daily basis.”
With candy bags already overflowing, young trick-or-treaters looking to add to their stash made their way to downtown businesses along Railroad Street.
Halloween festivities continued Saturday with multiple events throughout the community.
Warrior Fitness expanded its Halloween celebrations this year by moving its popular spooky maze to the Mt. West Dentist lot. Owners Blake and Dana Sherwood of Mt. West Dentist donated the use of the park, continuing their support of numerous community events throughout the year.
Becky Fields, owner of Warrior Fitness, along with employees from Block Mountain Stone, assembled the maze using 160 pallets and will also handle its disassembly. Corn stalks, giant spiders, and other Halloween decorations transformed the maze into a popular attraction for children.
"It's great. There is so much room," Fields said of the new location. "It's right off the highway with lots of parking."
When asked about improvements for next year, Fields smiled and replied, "Port-a-potties, and we may make this bigger next year."
Waterway Ranch also participated at the Dental lot with its laser tag game and provided pumpkins for children to paint. Baked goods were donated for auction, while children had the opportunity to carve and paint pumpkins and enter the pumpkin carving and painting contest.
The winner of the baking contest was Lakoda Aultman with her walnut pear cake. The pumpkin and baking events were sponsored by the Plains Montana Events Association.
A long-standing tradition dating back to 1959 continued at Fred Young Park, where the Plains Lions Club hosted its annual Halloween Weenie Roast and Costume Contest.
"We have had a good turnout every single year with local support," said Steve Spurr. "The weather was great this year."
Chris Reyna and family once again won the group costume contest, this year portraying characters from Disney's 101 Dalmatians. A second winner was the Sean and Jessica Peterson family with the Lilo and Stitch theme.
Another Plains Halloween tradition took place at Sunset Hills Funeral Home, where 40 dozen fresh doughnuts and hot cider were served. More than 300 people stopped by throughout the evening.
Sanders County Fairgrounds groundskeeper Cameron Vulles added a touch of Halloween spirit with a "Great Pumpkin" display.
Church on the Move hosted Glow Night for area children, while Harvest Community Church held a harvest party. Plains Alliance Church celebrated the 11th year of its annual Halloween event, featuring games and activities for families.
The Alliance Church gymnasium featured 10 game booths where children could win candy and add weight to their already full candy bags. Face painting proved to be one of the most popular attractions, while a new candy bar toss game debuted this year."This year is beautiful outside," said Alliance Church Pastor Jason Siebert. "It's an easy night to be trick-or-treating. It's always a great place to bring people in. Parents can get snacks and hot cocoa."
He added, "Kids can play a whole lot of games and get candy without having to run all over in traffic. It's a great way to have fun in the community."
Plains Mayor Chris Allen at the Plains School Trick or Treat event. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Plains Mayor Chris Allen hands out candy during the 4th annual Plains School Trunk or Treat celebration. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders with trick or treater Maggie McLellan. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Teacher Kati Mitchell with Superintendent Ryan Rettig and Elementary Principal Kevin Meredth during the Plains Trunk or Treat event. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Fireman Hudson Wehrman, 2, is one happy guy after receiving a cookie from Em's Cafe with his mom Kaylan McCrea looking on. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Oakley Weeks cooks hotdogs with her dad Jayden Weeks at the Lions Club cookout in Fred Young Park. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Plains Mayor Chris Allen is one of the judges at the Dental Park Food Contest Sponsored by the Plains Montana Event Association. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Cora Coonan, 7, gets her pumpkin ready for the contest. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Maggie McClellon, 6, at the leaf search game at the Alliance Church on Halloween. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Steve Spurr, president of the Plains Lions Club, at the Halloween hot dog roast and costume contest. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
The Great Pumpkin at the Sanders County Fairgrounds. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
2-year-old Forrest McPhee decides which face he wants to have painted with Emalee Bishop. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott