Fairgrounds gets eerie look for Family-Fest

CELINA - The Mercer County Fairgrounds is offering a witch's cauldron full of treats and frights this weekend at the first Halloween Family-Fest and Campout.

"We've had a good response from the community," fairgrounds employee Tessie Collins said, adding the activity might become an annual event.

The weekend of fun is intended for all ages.

Events set for Friday evening and all day Saturday include crafts, games and trick or treating for children and wine tasting for adults. Other events are bingo, a movie on Friday, a scavenger hunt, costume judging, a cruise-in and a DJ on Saturday. Hayrides and the haunted barn will be available Friday and Saturday evenings.

"Events are primarily on Friday and Saturday but campers are more than welcome to stay until Sunday," Collins said.

A goal of having 50 campers sign up for the weekend was reached earlier this week. Campers can stay the whole weekend or one or two nights, according to Collins.

Trick or treat is scheduled for Saturday night. Six local businesses will pass out candy during the event. Campers also are invited to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

The Builders Club from Coldwater Middle School led by guidance counselor Sue Bills has helped with decorating and preparing for the weekend.

The 72-member club is a community service group. Members are using the haunted barn as a fundraiser for fairground improvement and a club Christmas project.

"The fairgrounds called to see if we wanted to do a fundraiser," Bills explained.

She said students have enjoyed working on the haunted barn.

"It's been a great thing for them," she said.

The students wrote scripts, made all the artwork and props and will be the haunters of the barn Friday and Saturday night, she said.

"They used math and writing skills that they've learned in school, so it's neat to see them use those skills in situations other than schoolwork," Bills said.

The group had been building the set and props during evenings at the school but they visited the fairgrounds on Tuesday afternoon to set up for the weekend.

"It's our one workday at the barn," Bills said.

Admission for the barn is $5 per person or $2 for people who are camping at the fairgrounds. Events begin 7:30 p.m. Friday and are open to the public.