Newtown’s ‘Creepy’ Carnival

But for the of color in the trees, one could have mistaken the early part of this week for September as the temperatures climbed through the seventies. Whether you call it climate change or “freak weather,” the net effect of the warm days, according to plant biologists, has been to mute the traditional blaze of color that envelopes New England in October. We don’t care. It’s still beautiful. And here in Newtown we always come up with last minute October surprise that adds more than enough color to our Main Street on All Hallows’ Eve.

Once again this year, Main Street residents are bracing for the arrival of thousands of children and parents on Halloween. All of the kids, and a surprising number of the adults, will be dressed in the finery of fright — or at least a safe, nonthreatening version of fright — that makes Newtown’s Main Street sparkle in the imagination of all ages. The event won’t be quite so spooky in the late afternoon hours, since the return of Eastern Standard Time has been put off a week this year. But night will fall soon enough, and all the carryings on of Newtown’s “Creepy” Carnival will continue under the cover of darkness. With the darkness come potential hazards.

As always, the Newtown police will be dispatched, and legions of lurking parents will watching out for everyone’s safety from the shadows. If you happen to be in the center of town that night, this responsibility will also fall to you. Whether it is driving at a crawl, or recognizing dangerous situations before they evolve toward injury, every adult should be on duty that night.

Also, be sure to pay your respects to the residents of Main Street, who open their homes to all the tricks of the night and reciprocate with a few tricks and plenty of treats of their own. That includes respecting their property and maybe evening helping out with candy supply. And a thank-you wouldn’t hurt — even from the scariest of goblins.