NEWBERRY — Halloween is right around the corner, and now would be the perfect time to put out pumpkins for decorations.

The Newberry County Chamber of Commerce will have you covered for pumpkins this year with their Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Party.

The Chamber will give out free pumpkins from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23 to the first 150 children, ages 12 and under, who arrive in Town Square in front of Newberry Community Hall.

This is the second year the Chamber has thrown this party. Liz MacDonald, Chamber administrator, said last year was lots of fun and the children had a great time, as did their parents.

Michelle Long, executive director of the Chamber, said that last year they talked about doing different types of Halloween events, and decided to go the safe route, as in just decorating the pumpkins with no carving, and the non-competition route.

“Just a fun day for kids, and parents had a good time too, several came up to me after and asked if we would do this again next year,” she said. “We did not know how it would go that first year, did not know if anyone would come, but we had a great crowd and we ran out of snacks.”

Last year MacDonald and Long said when they arrived to prepare for the event at 2 p.m. they already had a line of people waiting to decorate pumpkins. So this year they decided to cut the time back to where the event ends at 4:30 p.m. Mainly because everyone showed up before the event. MacDonald estimates that last year they had 100 children show up.

“I defiantly recommend families get here early, right around 3 p.m., because it is first come, first served. We did not run out of pumpkins last year, but we could this year,” she said.

If there are any pumpkins left over the Chamber will call local non-profits, like the Housing Authority and Boys Farm, to see if they would like them.

The Newberry Wal-Mart is donating the pumpkins to the Chamber, MacDonald said these are good sized pumpkins and not tiny ones. Senn Freight Lines Inc. is also a sponsor for this event.

The art supplies for the Decorating Party will be supplied by the Chamber, they will have paints, stickers, markers and other items of that nature. Long recommends that all children attending wear clothes they do not mind messing up, because the paint will stain.

To help get the word out about the party the Chamber will send flyers to Newberry County Schools, after they are approved by the District Office. The Chamber will have drinks and snacks available for children during the party.

The Chamber will be able to give out 150 free pumpkins for children to decorate this year.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_6.jpgThe Chamber will be able to give out 150 free pumpkins for children to decorate this year. File photo | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.