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Halloween

Seniors get in the spirit on Halloween

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PEPPERELL — The ghouls were out at the Albert Harris Senior Center on Halloween – and  regulars at the center wouldn’t have it any other way.

After a delicious lunch of “ghoul-lash”, a Halloween parade began with judges to pick the best costumes, with prizes were awarded at the end.

Seniors then enjoyed a Mass Cultural Council-sponsored performance by Davis Bates, a folk singer and storyteller. Bates entertained and celebrated the season with true life ghost stories, supernatural stories, tales, and songs about harvest.

“This is always a fun time here each year. I love seeing all the costumes!” said MaryAnn Hagan, dressed as a witch.

For more information about activities at the Pepperell Senior Center find them on Facebook.

(Courtesy of Joanna Reagan)

Westminster celebrates Halloween with tradition

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Jay Garcia, dressed up as an Elliott from ET, was award second place at the Westminster Halloween festivities. (COURTESY OF FORBUSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY)
Jay Garcia, dressed up as an Elliott from ET, was award second place at the Westminster Halloween festivities. (COURTESY OF FORBUSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY)

WESTMINSTER — Each year, along with the Westminster Fire Department and the Town of Westminster, the Friends of Forbush Memorial Library sponsor the Halloween Bonfire and Costume Parade.

Hundreds of participants make their way from their trick-or-treating spots to the Westminster Fire Department for this festive end to Westminster’s Halloween tradition.

This year’s costume contest winners were: First place – “Back to the Future” by the Caron family (Avery Caron, as Marty McFly, Emerson Caron, as Doc Brown, with parents, Jennifer and Dan Caron); second place – “Elliott from ET”, by Jay Garcia; and third place – “The Owl” by Aili Johnson.

Shops, costumed kids brighten downtown

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The annual Halloween Parade glided through a beautiful day in downtown Leominster Saturday and crowds of children, dressed exactly as they want to dress for a change, enjoying summer weather during an autumn holiday.

Owner Heather Bilek of Speakeasy Salon, greets parade goers on Saturday with treats as they pass by. (GARY FOURNIER)
Owner Heather Bilek of Speakeasy Salon, greets parade goers on Saturday with treats as they pass by. (GARY FOURNIER)
From left, Olivia and Harper enjoy Saturday's 2023 Halloween Parade in downtown. (GARY FOURNIER)
From left, Olivia and Harper enjoy Saturday’s 2023 Halloween Parade in downtown. (GARY FOURNIER)
Alex and Hannah are out enjoying Saturday's parade. (GARY FOURNIER)
Alex and Hannah are out enjoying Saturday’s parade. (GARY FOURNIER)
Makayla Mosley who is a princess, walks in the parade with her grandfather Paul Loftis. (GARY FOURNIER)
Makayla Mosley who is a princess, walks in the parade with her grandfather Paul Loftis. (GARY FOURNIER)
Elijah Sandberg, as Spiderman, prepares to participate in the parade with his Grandmother Mary Floyd. (GARY FOURNIER)
Elijah Sandberg, as Spiderman, prepares to participate in the parade with his Grandmother Mary Floyd. (GARY FOURNIER)
Parade participants gather behind C&M Pizza prior to the start of the parade. This is an area where people will line up to walk in the parade, which begins going down Central Street towards the center of downtown Leominster. (GARY FOURNIER)
Parade participants gather behind C&M Pizza prior to the start of the parade. This is an area where people will line up to walk in the parade, which begins going down Central Street towards the center of downtown Leominster. (GARY FOURNIER)
Mayor Dean Mazzarella serves up ice cream to parade goers during Saturday's event. (GARY FOURNIER)
Mayor Dean Mazzarella serves up ice cream to parade goers during Saturday’s event. (GARY FOURNIER)

Trick-or-treaters to rule Main Street once again

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The city is once again closing down a section of Main Street in downtown for the annual Trick or Treat Main Street on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the closure, City Hall, in-person early voting and local businesses can be reached via Boulder Drive.

Main Street in Fitchburg was closed down on Saturday for the annual Halloween on Main Street event. Natah Alkenani was dressed as a baby shark of the event. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE
Natah Alkenani was dressed as a baby shark during a past year. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE)
Main Street in Fitchburg was closed down on Saturday for the annual Halloween on Main Street event. Lines where long to get candy that was being given out by the companies on Main Street. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE
Trick-or-treaters lined up for candy at one business in a past year at. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE)

Gravestone Girls show symbolism, art in burial grounds

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LEOMINSTER — Spend a fall evening at the Leominster Public Library taking a virtual tour chronicling the art, history, and symbolism of New England burial grounds with a trio of cemetery historians known as the Gravestone Girls.

The program, titled “Welcome to the Graveyard,” will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the library’s Community Room, located at 30 West St.

“The library is so pleased to welcome the Gravestone Girls,” said Diana Sanabria, Local History and Genealogy Librarian at Leominster Public Library. “Their unique blend of history, iconography and storytelling brings to light what our cemeteries have to tell us about our past.”

The Gravestone Girls will feature photographs of many area cemeteries and chart their evolution from the colonial era into the 21st century during this 90-minute presentation.

With the mission to “keep our dead alive,” the Gravestone Girls regularly work with libraries, historical societies, and genealogical groups.

“We teach about the art, symbolism, and history of these living history museums located on everyone’s main streets and backyards,” said Gravestone Girl Brenda Sullivan.

The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Leominster Library and presented in partnership with the Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society. The society was founded in 1993 in Gardner and membership is open to all those interested in family history, whether just beginning their journey or seasoned researchers needing help with “brick walls.”

Their partnership with the Leominster Public Library includes programs of historical interest as well as hosting popular genealogy help sessions on the first and third Saturday mornings of each month in the library’s Local History Room.

Sullivan added that many people are interested in cemeteries but may be hesitant to say so.

“Our presentation lets you know you’re not the only one,” she said. “Come and see what we do! We fill the room every time!”

Light refreshments will be served. For more information on this event, or other library events, call 978-534-7522 or visit leominsterlibrary.org.

Halloween brewing in the Twin Cities and beyond

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October is here, which means a plethora of spooktacular Halloween events and displays are brewing in the Twin Cities and beyond.

The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through on Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)
The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through Oct. 20-22 and 27-29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)

In Leominster, a Halloween Magic and Mindreading Show for teens and adults will take place on Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the library and the annual Halloween parade is set for Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Children, families, and people of all ages are welcome to march in costume in the parade and kids can trick-or-treat downtown during the festivities.

Leominster Frights returns this month and is open to any homes or businesses with a city address who decorate for the holiday. People can register at tinyurl.com/LeominsterFrights2023 by Oct. 11 at noon and an interactive map will be posted online on Friday the 13th for the lights displays feature that officially kicks off on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. and runs through Halloween.

The Eichorn family's 10 Daley St. Halloween display is one of the homes and businesses registered for the annual Leominster Frights event, which officially kicks off on Oct. 16 and runs through Halloween. An interactive map of all the participating displays will be posted online on Friday the 13th. (COURTESY SHANNON EICHORN)
The Eichorn family’s 10 Daley St. Halloween display is one of the homes and businesses registered for the annual Leominster Frights event, which officially kicks off on Oct. 16 and runs through Halloween. An interactive map of all the participating displays will be posted online on Friday the 13th. (COURTESY SHANNON EICHORN)

 

A Sensory/Inclusive Trunk or Treat will be held at Leominster United Methodist Church on Oct. 29 from 4-6 p.m. The Halloween event organized by Leominster SEPAC in collaboration with Project Apples/Leominster CFCE will feature games, treats, a quiet reading area, sensory activities and more. There are limited spots available, and an e-ticket is required to keep it from becoming too overwhelming for trunk or treaters. To register and for more information visit the Facebook event page or email leominstersepac@gmail.com.

According to a recent social media post, the family behind Christmas on Tolman said they are “hopeful we will have an opportunity to open Halloween on Tolman this year, however the past few weeks have proven to be extremely hectic.” People can follow the Christmas on Tolman Facebook page for updates on the popular family friendly display.

Fitchburg is offering two options for trick-or-treating – on Main Street Sat. Oct 28 from noon to 2 p.m. and citywide trick or treating on Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. – and the Townsend Haunted Trail returns to the town library at 12 Dudley Rd. on Oct. 7 from 7-9 p.m. with a rain date of Oct. 8.

Amy Descarreaux and her family have been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking that they’ve done every year since moving to their 1034 Rindge Road Fitchburg home in 2016.

The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through on Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)
The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through on Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)

“We open the display up to the public, so people have a local and free thing to do to celebrate Halloween,” the mom of two said of the inspiration behind it. “We welcome people to wear costumes, although it’s absolutely not necessary, and we have candy for anyone who wants to trick-or-treat.”

Descarreaux, whose husband is a lifelong city resident, said their exhibit “has gotten bigger each year” and that people are welcome to walk through and take in all the festive Halloween decorations and “animatronics in action” – and that they will have fog machines going.

“We just love Halloween and like to share it with others,” she said, adding that her mom “always did a display, so I grew up with it.”

Their kids, ages 12 and 14, also grew up with their family’s Halloween display “so it’s all they’ve ever known” and enjoy helping put it up. When asked if the ghoulish spectacle is kid friendly, Descarreaux said “it depends on the kid.”

“We have a ton of kids come through every year. Some love it, for some it’s too scary. For little ones, it’s sometimes better to come when it’s light rather than dark.”

Husband and wife musicians Stephanie Rogers and Joe Mazzarella brought Halloween-themed fun to their monthly Kiddie Music Time with Monument Square Community Music School held on Oct. 2 at the Leominster Public Library. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
Husband and wife musicians Stephanie Rogers and Joe Mazzarella brought Halloween-themed fun to their monthly Kiddie Music Time with Monument Square Community Music School held on Oct. 2 at the Leominster Public Library. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

The display will be open for people to walk through it the weekends of Oct. 20-22 and 27-29 from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening.

“Everything will be on Halloween night as well, but we never get trick-or-treaters on Halloween living where we do,” Descarreaux said. “There is not a lot in our area for Halloween that does not cost a lot of money, so we love to invite people to come to our yard. We have people that come every year and look forward to the tradition. We put a lot of work into the display, so we love to share it with people.”