Gravette celebrates with Trick or Treat on Main

GRAVETTE -- Gravette once again celebrated Halloween with its popular Trick or Treat on Main Street event. The weather cooperated beautifully, with temperatures in the lower 70s. And visitors, both young and old, enjoyed the event.

Booths were set up along both sides of the street in the first two blocks of Main Street east of Highway 59. Several area businesses, local civic organizations and churches participated, as well as members of the Gravette Fire Department, Gravette Police Department, and city employees. The event began at 4 p.m. and was scheduled to end at 7 p.m.

A wide variety of costumes was seen, with most of the folks manning the booths dressed in costume as well. The street was bustling with activity as both beauties and beasts made their way among the displays. Most just offered candy, but a few allowed visitors to play a game to earn their treats or prizes.

Visitors to the Gravette Gym booth could spin a wheel for a chance to win toys as well as candy. The Bank of Gravette dispensed candy through a clever Candy ATM, El Bohemio Mexican restaurant offered not only candy but tortilla chips, salsa and cheese dip, and the Gravette Lions distributed healthy fruit along with their candy.

Lovely princesses, movie and book characters, clowns both funny and scary, members of the animal kingdom (and pets) mingled with vampires, monsters, ghosts and mummies. A few participants even brought along their furry friends to join in the fun.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Jheri Roberts, pastor of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, offers treats to visitors at the church's booth during Gravette's Trick or Treat on Main. Balloon bouquets and a path of colorful squares led several, both young and old, to visit the booth.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Santa arrived a bit early this year and was seen on Gravette Main Street last Monday in a reverse role, getting his bag filled. Here he visits the JOM Ventures booth manned by Tracie Flink and Debra Giuffrida. JOM Ventures owners have recently bought the building just east of city hall and are renovating it.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Natanya Riddle, who owns the Gravette Gym with her husband Les, and Gravette artist Debbie Hall (right) help a young Dalmation play a game at the Gravette Gym booth. Youngsters were able to spin a wheel to win either a prize toy or candy.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Jordan Reynolds, dressed in a charming gypsy costume, dispenses treats from a treasure chest at her booth on Gravette Main Street. Many local businesses and organizations offered treats at Trick or Treat on Main but Jordan was one of only a few individuals who participated.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Members of the Gravette Lions Club dispense candy as well as healthy treats like apples and oranges. Several youngsters found the fruit a welcome change from all the sweet treats. Pictured are Lions Snooky Garrett, Jeff Davis, Al Blair, Sue Rice and Linda Damron.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Maricruz Morales, her husband Javier and daughter Dannia pose with Ricka Abadines at the El Bohemio trick or treat booth. The Morales family offered a unique item, chips, salsa and cheese dip, and served their candy from a pair of sombreros.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND April and Bob Appleby are seen on Gravette Main Street with their Maltese, Bea. April said, "This is how you trick or treat when you don't have grandchildren." Bea was dressed in a lobster costume and was not too happy with her disguise.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND David Henzie, owner of Henzie's Art Studio on Gravette Main Street, is prepared for visitors with a big tub full of candy. David recruited his son Brook, age 5, and he was enjoying the activity. Three large pumpkins attracted attention to the Henzies' booth.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Gravette firefighters Dee Walker and McKenna Bagley are ready for trick or treaters with a colorful tote filled with candy. These and other members of the Gravette Fire Department attracted much attention with a fire truck parked on Gravette Main Street.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Karen Benson, director of the Gravette Public Library, sits at a table next to Melinda Crawley and Teresa Davis, members of the Friends of the Gravette Public Library, to welcome visitors. While both booths dispensed candy, the Friends booth also offered coin bags to be filled and returned to the library to help buy books.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Youngsters had to work a bit to get their candy at the Bank of Gravette booth. Treats were dispensed through a Candy ATM. Here visitors line up to make their transaction while bank employee Rhonda Jarvis looks on and Debbie Strickland works behind the machine inserting treats.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Trick or treaters, both young and old, line up to visit the booth in front of Grand Savings Bank, attracted perhaps by the dinosaur visible at the end of the block. The triangle just north of the bank was decorated with gravestones and a few bodies appeared to be escaping from their graves.