A group of local organizations will join together Saturday to
scare up some fun for the region’s children.

In a collaborative effort between the Downtown Bradford Business
District Association, McKean County Visiting Nurse Association and
Hospice, Bradford Hospital Foundation and the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford, residents will be able to partake of
numerous Halloween-themed events as part of the Scarecrow Contest
and October Fun Fest at the activity center of the Grace Lutheran
Church on Mechanic Street.

Among the ghoulishly delightful events on hand will be the
fourth annual scarecrow contest along Main Street, a costume parade
walk, haunted house, face and pumpkin painting and, of course, food
and treats.

“We are hoping for a good turnout,” Main Street Manager Diane
DeWalt said. “Every year these events just seem to grow by leaps
and bounds.”

According to DeWalt, there are 25 entries for the scarecrow
contest, including several downtown businesses, two swim teams from
the Bradford Family YMCA and children from the area’s schools and
clubs.

“There are a lot of children involved,” DeWalt said.

DeWalt said participants will be able to put up their scarecrows
Saturday morning, with winners being announced at 2 p.m. at the Fun
Fest. The creations will be judged by a three-member panel led by
Tom Seagren of Zippo Manufacturing Co.

“There are about the same number of entries as last year,”
according to DeWalt,” but there are some different groups that have
entered the contest this year.”

Meanwhile, the Fun Fest is slated to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the church.

According to organizers, children will begin to gather at the
church at 11 a.m. to begin preparing for the costume walk – which
will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Good weather providing, the
parade will go down Mechanic Street, up and down Main Street and
back to the church.

“We’ll bring the children down (Main Street) so they can see all
the entries and we may stop at some of the businesses and
Trick-or-Treat,” DeWalt said.

Francie Ambuske, director of the Bradford Hospital Foundation,
said the Fun Fest will also feature face and pumpkin painting, a
haunted house, wellness clinic, baked food sale, games and food.
Also, the McKean County SPCA will be on hand with animals from the
shelter, a diabetic screening is slated and representatives of the
Festival of Trees program will promote its event on Nov. 17.

The events are sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association, with
the staff of the agency manning the wellness clinic. Also, the
Bradford Hospital Foundation will be promoting its Named Fund
Promotion.

According to Ambuske, the second annual Fun Fest has a genesis
from the Sue Ryan Fun Fest, which was ongoing for a number of
years.

“We took that theme and built on it to promote many of our
funds,” Ambuske said. “Building on those funds, we decided to look
at a way to promote and do something for the children at Halloween
in a user-friendly environment. Now, we are holding hands with
Downtown Bradford and its Scarecrow Contest.

“We also felt it was always important to continue promoting
health and wellness,” Ambuske added.

Last year, according to Ambuske, more than 400 children attended
the events and volunteers from Pitt-Bradford will be available this
year to help with the programs and games. Meanwhile, food tickets
can be purchased at the door for a nominal fee; the menu includes
hot dogs, candy, popcorn, refreshments and food from the Lunchbox
Restaurant.

In addition, the YMCA will open its doors from 3 to 4 p.m. for a
family swim.

“We appreciate they are opening our doors for the children so
they will be able to continue with their afternoon activities,”
Ambuske said.

Ambuske added at least a dozen VNA staff members will be in
attendance and have helped to put together 400 individual bags of
candy. The event will also feature 250 pumpkins from the
Ellicottville area which will be used during the pumpkin
painting.

“It’s a pretty large community minded effort,” Ambuske said. “We
all hold hands and try to make it an enjoyable day for everyone
involved.”