Halloween Carnival

The Town of Athens supported a carnival every Halloween sponsored by the Lion's Club from the 1950’s through the 1980’s. People from the town and surrounding area attended. Some who attended as youngsters or teenagers attended again as adults and later took their own children.

The Town closed Vermillion Street to traffic to set up the booths for the food venders, merchants, and clubs. One would set up apple bobbing tubs in the middle of the street.  People attending the carnival voted for the Halloween Queen using pennies---the girl with the most pennies was crowned Halloween Queen. The Halloween Queens are featured in another article in Events.

When Kay White Monohan was asked about the event, she described it this way: "What a special event! During the 1950’s and early 60’s, I remember the sack races, a three legged race, costume contests, and cake walks. There was a fishing game with prizes which may have been sponsored by the Sub Deb’s. It was set up in the front lawn of the house between Parker’s Store and the theater. The younger children were centered toward the Parker Store and theater end of the block while the teenagers were dancing in the street in front of the Methodist church. There was a fraternity from Concord that celebrated their founder’s day and were usually in front of Ball’s store. The highlight of the evening is when the Halloween Queen was announced. Since the winner was determined by the amount of money that was collected on their behalf, there was always the excitement of a last minute surge of contributions. Each penny counted as one vote. It was so much fun!!"

Comments in an article in the Princeton Times by Jeff Harvey, November 10, 2017, said the carnival was magical, just good clean fun.  Barbara Duncan commented that in the 1970’s the Hazelwood brothers and cousins set up in front of the Oxley Store and played some of the best string music ever. There was dancing in the streets! They  formed a large circle in the middle of the street for the cake walk.

Doris Ellen Irwin recalled that she was “volunteered” to sit in the fortune teller booth and tell carnival goers fortunes. Thus was born Madam Dora. She continued to play the part at other functions around the area.

Neta Fern White Thorn wrote in her reflection, "Childhood in Athens," that the Halloween Carnival was one of her favorite memories. "The street was blocked off from the bank to where Homer Balls store used to be beside the present post office. Adults and children dressed up in costumes and prizes were given to the winners of various categories. There were vendors from the schools and different organizations in town, apple bobbing, and a contest for a Halloween Queen – one penny per vote."

"As a small child the most exciting event was the appearance of the Phi Delta Pi. They approached the carnival from the direction of the college, in a convertible with the headlights off. The officers rode in the car with inductees walking on either side of it. This was the night of their initiation. They appeared out of the darkness. A drummer walked in front tapping out a very slow cadence. On the hood of the car were placed two or three hideous looking jack-o’-lanterns. I anticipated their appearance with fear and anxiety but couldn’t wait to see them. For several years I thought they appeared at the carnival because their colors were orange and black." Read Vera's complete article in Reflections in this chapter.

Henry Friedl grew up in Athens and has fond memories of attending the Halloween Carnival. He wrote, “Athens Halloween Carnival  transformed Vermillion  Street.  Kids and adults of all ages reveled  in showing off their clever disguises.  Laughter and good will abounded in watching (and participating) in the huge “ Cake Walk “ as well as “bobbing for apples!” Other booths offered tasty hot dogs, or “fishing for a prize.”  It was great fun walking through the throngs of people enjoying the delights from the “trick or treat“ bag that each person carried.”

The Halloween Carnival was held back in the days when it was safe for youngsters to walk along Vermillion Street enjoying all the festivities, laughter and just plain good fun.