Oct 19, 2018 4 min read

If you’re up bright and early Halloween morning, October 31, and in the mood for some costume creativity, you might want to head over to the steps of the Greene County Courthouse.

Now in its 11th year, Spooktacular draws some talented folks interested in winning cash, trophies and medals in a Halloween costume competition that will start at 8:30 a.m. If you miss the judging component, which ends at 9, you can catch many of the costumed entrants at noon when the winners will be announced.

You’ll also be able to grab a bite to eat when the Ladies Auxiliary of Waynesburg VFD holds a bake sale that includes lunch items.

Athena Bowman, administrative assistant for Waynesburg Borough, said last year’s menu included things like soup, ham barbecue and vegetarian pizza, although this year’s menu has yet to be finalized.

“We stage the judging early in the day so that the participants can get to work,” Bowman said. “Our panel of three judges will also go to the workplace to see the costumes of those who can’t make the early morning stop at the courthouse.”

The competition is open to all employees of a business located within Waynesburg Borough and those employed outside the borough in a business that’s a member of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. In case of rain, the judging will take place at the borough office, 90 East High Street in Waynesburg.

Last year, 54 participants vied for prizes and bragging rights in four different categories – individual, group (of no more than 8 participants), most original and most entertaining.

“Each year, we get more and more participants,” Bowman said. “There’s a lot of creative people out there, and our judges have a hard time picking the winners. As soon as the winners are announced, many participants start planning next year’s costume.”

In 2017, organizers added the “most entertaining” category, which was won by a group that called themselves the California Raisins, a group of five employees from the Greene County Clerk of Courts office. In their presentation, the Raisins danced, sang and pretended to play instruments to the song “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”

Costumes can either be homemade or bought, just as long as they’re in good taste. Photos of the winners and a list of participants will be posted to the Facebook pages of both the chamber and borough.

The first-place winner for individual costume is awarded $100 and a trophy while the next three finishers get $50 plus medals. The “most original” category winner gets $100 plus a ceramic pumpkin made by Adamson Pottery of Waynesburg. The “most entertaining” category winner gets $100 plus a trophy and medals, while the “best group” category winners get $100 with the second- and third-place winners getting $50 each and medals.

This year’s prize sponsors include High Street Hair, McCracken Pharmacy, PCsquared, First National Bank of PA, Baily Agency, State Representative Pam Snyder, Rhodes & Hammers Printing, MedExpress, Laick Design, Waynesburg Milling, Adamson Pottery and Lola Energy Resources.

“All our participants, whether they win or lose, will get a treat bag of at least six candies, the kind you get when you go trick or treating,” said Melody Longstreth, chamber executive director.

Both the Chamber of Commerce and borough co-sponsor the Spooktacular, but neither organization is involved with judging the competition, which is handled by representatives of the community. Longstreth said the Spooktacular is the only event both Greene County organizations co-sponsor, although they do work with one another on other projects throughout the year.

While the Spooktacular is geared to adult employees of area businesses, children can enjoy another competition on Oct. 25.

Costumed children from preschool age to 12 years old should meet at 6 p.m. at the parking lot behind Victoria Square. Cash prizes will be awarded the best costumes according to age category by the Waynesburg Lions Club, the sponsoring organization.

The contestants will then parade down High Street at 6:30, followed by the Waynesburg Central marching band to the PNC parking lot.

“Each year for Spooktacular, the things people come up with for their costumes are simply amazing,” Bowman said. “There’s a lot of talent and creativity out there.”