Kids and Costumes on Halloween

More than a hundred costumed kids hit downtown Lincoln for the annual Halloween Walk, Oct. 31 The walk has given Lincoln kids a chance to trick or treat safely, going door to door at local businesses on Main Street, since the late 80's.

Lincoln School Superintendent Carla Anderson said the walk iss usually for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, but this year's addition of a preschool bumped up the number of kids, as did the parents who joined in with younger kids who aren't in school yet.

Another staple of the holiday, the Halloween Carnival, has a history that goes back even further than the Walk and continues to be a popular fundraiser for the Lincoln Parent-Teacher-Student association.

Anderson said it got off to a slow start this year, which briefly raised some concerns.

"We thought 'Oh dear, have we just worn everybody out?'" she said. "By six o'clock it was so busy. It was wonderful."

The carnival featured a pumpkin carving contest, a raffle for Halloween themed quilt by Jessie Sallin, a costume contest and the traditioanl assortment of fun and games for the kids.

Anderson said the carnival games, which seem to remain popular, have a long history at the school

"Some of them area really old school," she said. "You know, like the Plinko ... they've been around forever."

Although the carnival has been held at the school gym in recent years, Anderson said the Lincoln Community Hall has also been a recurring venue from time to time, depending on how things work out with basketball practice.

She said the PTSA raised $699 from the Halloween Carnival this year, between game tickets, hot dog sales and the quilt raffle.