Callin' on ghosts, goblins, princesses and all ye landlocked scallywags!

'Pirates on the Prairie': Stillwater's 19th Annual Downtown Halloween Festival to be held Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m.

video Click to watch the 30-second ad playing on Suddenlink

Pirates of the Prairie, David Warren (black hat) and Michael Roberson (dreadlocks) from City of Stillwater Parks and Recreation, stormed Downtown Stillwater to unfurl the Jolly Roger above Debbie's Hallmark and announce the upcoming Downtown Halloween Festival and its Pirates on the Prairie theme. The festival is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The outlandish costumes were courtesy of festival sponsor Costumes Balloons and Stuff, 113 S. Perkins Road.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Oct. 12, 2009) — Ahoy, me hearties! Stillwater's 19th Annual Downtown Halloween Festival will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Main Street between 6th and 9th Avenues.

In addition to the traditional children's games, the costume contest and trick-or-treating with downtown merchants, this year's festival will include street peformers, musical entertainment from the landlocked Okie maritime band The Rum Fellows, two large inflatables (Blackbeard's Revenge Slide and the Ghost Town Maze/Laser Tag) and a "ghost ship" stage crafted by the scallywags o'er at the Parks, Events and Recreation Department.

Festival coordinator Angela McLaughlin said, "People begin calling as early as June to find out what the theme is for the halloween festival, and this year when we told them pirates they all say.....arrrr!"

The annual costume contest categories are as follows: scariest, funniest, prettiest, most creative, best use of theme, best of show for each age group, and best of show. Awards will be giving to individuals in various age groups as well as for groups. [Click here for list of celebrity judges and their alter egos.]

MK's Photograph will be set up in two locations for those interested in halloween photographs, and Stillwater Radio will be hold a live remote broadcast from downtown.

For all the little ghosts and goblins attending the event there will be free "Bags of Swag" and plenty of grub for sale in the food court. All activities are free of charge, except for the inflatables that will cost $3 per wristband or $5 for two wristbands. A wristband will allow each child to slide and play as many times as he or she wishes.

rum fellows

Schedule to appear are the Rum Fellows, Okie maritime music for the landlocked pirate from Norman. |

http://www.myspace.com/therumfellows 

The festival will also be conducting a food drive for the Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency (COCAA). "We are asking residents to bring a nonperishable food item — canned food, boxes of breakfast cereal, bottles of juice, etc. COCAA representatives have said they are seeing more families in need this year and they need help to fill their pantries. We are happy to partner with COCAA and help the community in this way," said McLaughlin. [Click here for more information about the food drive.]

Most needed items:

Peanut Butter
Jelly
cereal
dry milk
canned tomatoes

 tomato paste
tomato sauce
spaghetti sauce canned tuna
canned chicken
ravioli

canned soups
chili
canned beans
dry beans
rice
macaroni & cheese

 hamburger helpers
boxed dinners
pastas
canned fruit
canned vegetables

There will be drop-off spot on Main Street marked for donations. Festival goers who bring a food item will receive a commemorative button, which will entitle them or their parents to merchandise discounts the week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 6 at participating downtown businesses.

"This is the second year the halloween festival has supported a food drive, and festival goers are really supportive of the idea of helping others will attending a free and fun community event; however, donations are not necessary to enjoy the free activities and trick-or-treat with the merchants," said Angela McLaughlin, Business Improvement District coordinator. "We are happy to partner with COCAA and help the community in this way."

poster
Posters printed by Allegra Print and Imaging (205 W. 7th, Suite 201F, Stillwater)

Festivals of this size don't happen without the support of sponsors (Debbie's Hallmark, Suddenlink, Stillwater Radio, Costume Balloons and Stuff, Allegra Print and Imaging, ONB Bank, and Arvest Bank) and volunteers (Town and Gown Theatre, Shelter Workshop, OSU Leisure Majors Club, OSU Zeta Beta Tau Chapter and OSU Volunteer Services Group).

The organizing committee would like to give a special thanks to the costume contest's celebrity judges: John Bartly, Larry Brown, Dan and Diane Galloway, Robyn Davies, Darrell Dougherty, Tom Dugger, Ival Gregory, Steve Green, Charles and Teresa Hopkins, Clara Lewis, Pam Nelson, Josh Pulver, Maxine Russell, Deborah Tate, Wayne Wilczek, and Tom Williams.

Trick-or-treating with the downtown merchants is sponsored by: American Red Cross, Aspen Coffee, Awards & Moore, Avon Beauty Center, BancFirst, The Beadery, Cafe Bella, Central Drug, Cowboy Bob's, Debbie's Hallmark, Formal Fantasy, Fruity Delights, Hello Gorgeous Uptown, Karmen Korner, Leonard Jewlery, Merrifield Office Supply, MK's Photography, Murphy's Department Story, ONB Bank and Trust, Stillwater Showcase Furniture, The Terrority,Wiggles and Giggles, and Zannotti's Wine Bar.

The Downtown Halloween Festival is jointly presented by Downtown Stillwater (Business Improvement District #1) and the City of Stillwater Parks and Recreation Department. More information is available on the stillwater.org web site.

Area businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring the Downtown Halloween Festival or hosting a non-soliciting booth for may contact McLaughlin at (405) 742-8359 or amclaughlin@stillwater.org.

The City of Stillwater recognizes traditional Halloween trick-or-treat activities on Saturday, Oct. 31.

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On the Net:

About Downtown Stillwater: Established in 2007 and funded through annual assessments, Downtown Stillwater (Business Improvement District #1) is a formal organization of property owners and commercial tenants — with support from the City of Stillwater — dedicated to economic development, cultural growth and a commitment to create a welcoming environment for all who live, work, play and dine in the area. For more information, call (405) 742-8359 or visit www.downtownstw.com.

 
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