Children, pets enjoys a different Halloween

Halloween was no doubt different in 2020, but residents of Poplar Bluff found ways to make the best of it.

On Saturday, the Parks and Recreation Department hosted a Halloween pet costume contest in the city’s dog park downtown.

Vanessa Steward runs in the Poplar Bluff Dog Park with her Australian Shepherd, Sadie, who dressed as a spider for the dog costume contest.DAR/Paul Davis

Being an inaugural event and with COVID-19 on everyone’s minds, only a handful of contestants turned out, but judging by the sounds of the barks, all the dogs had fun.

“This was supposed to be in conjunction with everything they were going to have downtown with the Trunk-or-Treat, but that got canceled,” said Park Department Horticulturist Murray Hammond, who, along with Chris Waite, spearheaded the new event. “So we decided to still go ahead and still do something for the dogs and kids and pet owners.”

Hammond said he hopes the costume contest can become an annual event.

Vanessa Steward ran with her Australian Shepherd, Sadie, to get her warmed up for the contest.

“I want her to win,” exclaimed Steward, admitting she planned on “showing the tricks I taught her.”

Rhonda Hardin heard about the contest only 30 minutes before it started, but got Lucy, her Shih Tzu, all dressed up for the event.

“We came down to give her exposure to the dogs, and I just thought it was so cute. I don’t have kids to take out for Halloween, so I’m taking my dog,” Hardin said.

Terena Whitworth pets Buddy, a pitbull and boxer mix dressed as a hotdog for the Halloween dog costume contest Saturday at the Poplar Bluff Dog Park.DAR/Paul Davis

Terena Whitworth brought Buddy, a former neighbor’s pitbull/boxer mix, and dressed him as a hotdog.

“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Halloween, and to do it with our furry friends is even more special,” Whitworth said.

Jessica Morris prepares her dog, Flower, for Saturday’s Halloween costume contest at the Poplar Bluff Dog Park.DAR/Paul Davis

“We had a howling good time,” she added.

Later in the evening, children began filtering into the city’s neighborhoods to trick-or-treat.

“They started around 4:30 and it’s been pretty steady since,” said Lisa Rose, who handed out candy from her west side driveway.

Marni Ray and Hank Luecke walk through a neighborhood trick-or-treating as their mothers, Summer ray and Nikki Reece, follow along.DAR/Paul davis

Rose said the crowd was a little smaller than in years past, but still substantial.

“I think we’ve had a good night. People have been out having a good time,” she said. “We’re enjoying seeing all the fun costumes and the sweet little trick or treaters.”

Lisa Rose hands out candy from her driveway Saturday evening.DAR/Paul davis

Under a fire-red sunset, 2-year-old Easton King was enjoying his second time trick-or-treating, but wasn’t sure about the whole thing.

“He’s a little shy and won’t say trick-or-treat yet,” said his mother, Hillary King.

Some residents even came up with creative ways to distribute their candy because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carter Williams, 2, dressed as a lion for Halloween.DAR/Paul Davis

Kim and Brad Stuckenschneider devised a pipe delivery system to hand out candy.

“We took a 6-foot PVC pipe for social distancing and painted it and dressed it up for Halloween. We’re just dropping the candy right through there. It’s something fun,” she said.