PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Despite a rather cold and rainy Halloween night, hundreds of families stopped by the Presque Isle Wesleyan Church for an evening of games, activities and some sweet, sugary prizes.
Debbie Rooney, Presque Isle Wesleyan Church children’s pastor, noted that the Big Top Bash draws in around 800 to 900 families each year and that she expected to see as many families this year, if not more, before the night was done. She said the event is made possible by around 80 volunteers who supervise the games and food tables and help put on the special Black Light Puppet Show for children.
“It gives families a safe place to go for the evening and a chance to connect with each other,” Rooney said. “For us this is our way of telling our community that we love them.”
Throughout the evening children sported costumes ranging from superheroes to astronauts to minions as they took turns at popular games such as the bean bag toss, mini golf and the tin can bowling alley, and tried their hand at basketball hoop shots and a mini hockey game.
“My favorite thing about Halloween is the candy,” said 6-year-old Eliana Ramsey, as she showed off all the candy she had collected in her orange pumpkin-shaped container.
Eliana dressed as a skeleton while her 4-year-old sisters Aria and Taum Ramsay dressed up as a witch and a nurse, respectively.
Rooney said that the excitement of the children who attend the Big Top Bash is always one of the most rewarding parts of the evening.
“Seeing all their happy faces is what makes all the hard work worth it,” she said.
