ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for some spooky family fun will have just that opportunity a couple weeks before Halloween.

Autumn at Arkalon will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Arkalon Park, and as Arkalon Board member Tara Logan tells it, there will be a lot going on that afternoon.

“We're kind of piggybacking with the police department. It's our first year, as the Arkalon Board, to host something out at Arkalon Park to entice more people to come out there,” Logan said. “We thought for our first year, if we piggybacked off the police department, it would help get people out there. We're going to have pumpkin painting for the kids, hay rides, and a photo area where families can do like a fall-themed photo. We won't have any photographer there, but people can use it to take nice fall photos. Then, at 8 p.m., we will start an outdoor movie the city has very kindly set up for us, and the entire idea is to have something for everyone – maybe the people who don't want to do the Trail of Terror can come out and enjoy the movie, and then the people who want to do the scarier stuff can do that.”

“We've been looking at trying to do something out there to show the park for people that haven't been down there,” fellow Arkalon Board member Justin Alexander added. “Tara's kind of taking the reins on this thing and come up with the ideas, and this is kind of a starter for us. We've got some other ideas to bring more stuff to the park in into the future, but this will be the start. Also, with the outdoor movie, we're going to have the popcorn and other snacks and drinks, but people will need to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets if they’re going to be hanging out for the movie.”

Logan said planning for the event came together rather quickly.

“Mid-August was when we started getting really serious with the planning. This event has been rather a last-minute thing, and we've put a lot of work into it the last couple months to get everything rounded up,” Logan said. “We honestly couldn't do it without the community. We've had quite a few local businesses donate pumpkins for the pumpkin painting. I've got a couple that are hoping to donate, depending on what they get, some hay bales for the hay rides. The trailer being used for the hay rides was also very kindly donated. We couldn’t have put this together without the great people in the community.”

Even though this is the first year for the event, Alexander and Logan said they are hoping to see good turnout.

“We're just hoping for like a good turnout. Since we’re doing this in conjunction with the Liberal PD, it gives an option, like Tara said, for people that don't enjoy doing the Trail of Terror, but maybe their kids do, and it gives them something to do while they're doing that,” Alexander said. “Our hope with this is it provides like an all day event for the community and they can kind of pick and choose what they want to do and be involved in.”

“There are also some food trucks going to be out there, I believe we ended up with four different food trucks, so we're excited about that. People will be able to eat, keep the kids busy and spend some family time together,” Logan added. “I hope the weather is amazing and everybody can just enjoy the afternoon. I don't know if anybody's been to Arkalon Park in the autumn, but it is beautiful because the trees are starting to change and everything just looks so pretty. I really hope we get families come down and enjoy everything, and as long as the weather cooperates, it should be a wonderful evening where some can do the scary stuff, and some can do the family fun stuff.”

Alexander and Logan said that weekend should be perfect for people to visit the park.

“If you haven't been to Arkalon Park, now would be a great time to come and we’ll hopefully be showing the best parts of the park,” Logan said. “I believe they already have quite a few campers that weekend, so there'll be plenty of other people down there having fun. There's plenty of things to do: get a bite to eat, enjoy the family things, and then if you're into the scary stuff, more power to you.”

“And if you have been to Arkalon, but it's been two or three years, there have been several changes and some pretty major upgrades,” Alexander added. “We've got a playground now for the kids, the road is in much better shape, and there are more changes to come in 2027. We have a lot of other ideas, and we all want to be going in the same direction. The park is beautiful, and it could be much, much more than what it is now.”

If the inaugural event ends up well, Logan and Alexander agreed they would love to keep it going for the future.

“There have been several ideas thrown around. This is the first one that we've kind of capitalized on as far as being a bigger event and invited the whole community,” Alexander said. “We've talked about a lot of other things – there's been talk about doing something around Christmas time, stuff in the spring. We're hoping to get a feel for how this goes as to what the next thing will be.”

“And with this year being our first event, like I said, we're piggybacking with the police department because they have an established event,” Logan added. “If we show people are interested in this, then maybe next year we could make it a few more hours in the afternoon into the evening or have it on its own weekend. All of that really depends on how turnout is and what the community wants. After all of that, then we can go from there. I'm hoping for a great turnout, but I do understand it's a first time event, so it can be hard to get the word out. And the October calendar for the community is so full, so I understand if this year doesn’t turn out amazing, but if we can just get a few people out there to enjoy it, that would be great. And again, if there’s enough positive word of mouth, then next year, we can maybe add a few things the community would like to see. And if anybody comes out and enjoys it and has other ideas, we would love to hear them. We want to know what the community wants so we can make sure that happens.”

Logan also offered encouragement for people to be active with the Arkalon Board.

“If anybody wants to be involved in anything we do in the future, they are more than welcome to reach out to a board member or reach out to the city if you don't know any board members,” Logan said. “We would welcome any kind of participation in the future. We want to make Arkalon Park the best it can be for the community.”