WITH Halloween arriving next Tuesday, members of Alfredton Rotary are bringing their seasonal celebrations back from the dead with a community party.<\/p>\n
Taking place for the first time since 2019, club member and public image coordinator Deb Robertson said their aim is to provide families and children a safe space to ring in the spooky tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s to give them that way of celebrating Halloween without having to knock on the doors of people they don\u2019t know,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the reason we originally set it up in 2016 so that\u2019s still the main aim and also just to have a bit of fun in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were hoping to have it last year but the site was just too wet because of the floods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Activities like body part tossing, plaster painting, a monster display, and face painting will feature in the event while costumed kids will receive a free sausage and bag of lollies.<\/p>\n
Previously held at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve, and run online with colouring and photo competitions during COVID, the free event will this year take place at Lucas Central Park.<\/p>\n
With past parties organised mainly with the help of other Rotary clubs, the upcoming evening is being financially supported for the first time by staff at property developer Integra.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also got Ballarat Grammar students running activities for us like we used to,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll also have Venturer Scouts helping, and some from the Alfredton Lucas Probus Club so expanded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having grown from a few hundred attendees in its first year to about 2000 in 2019, Ms Robertson said she\u2019s keen to see the event return bigger and better than before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the community\u2019s pretty excited,\u201d she said. \u201cThings are a bit of a struggle right now for a lot of people so it\u2019s just a free event, some games, and activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s low tech, unplugged community fun. I just love seeing the looks on the kids\u2019 faces when they\u2019re doing things like colouring in or making a mask. They\u2019re so intent and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alfredton Rotary Club\u2019s community Halloween party will take place on Tuesday 31 October from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WITH Halloween arriving next Tuesday, members of Alfredton Rotary are bringing their seasonal celebrations back from the dead with a community party. Taking place for the first time since 2019, club member and public image coordinator Deb Robertson said their aim is to provide families and children a safe space to ring in the spooky […]<\/p>\n