The Arnold Parks and Recreation Department will get people into the Halloween spirit this weekend.
The fifth annual Pocus Pomme event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Pomme Creek Park, 1 Golfview Drive. The event is free to attend and sponsored by Arsenal Credit Union.
The movie “Hotel Transylvania” will be shown at 7:30 p.m., and a costume contest will be held. There also will be hayrides available for $4 per rider, and the parks and rec department will sell food and beverages. Ajsa Roach, Parks and Recreation Department deputy director, said hayride tickets are cash only and there will not be an ATM at the park.
Those attending may bring their own food and beverages, and they are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Glass bottles and containers are not allowed.
“I feel like this kicks off the Halloween season,” Roach said. “There are a couple of people who have attended every year as part of their Halloween tradition. This is one of my favorite events because it is a free family event where you can watch a movie in one of our parks. I think it is an all-around fun community event.”
Roach said “Hotel Transylvania” was selected to be shown through a Facebook poll. The PG-13-rated movie is about a high-end resort operated by Dracula to give monsters a place to escape the human world. The hotel is discovered by a boy who falls in love with Dracula’s daughter.
“We always want to play a movie that is family friendly,” Roach said. “In the past, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ has been requested. Everyone loves it here, so apparently it is a really good movie for adults and children.”
Those who want to participate in the costume contest may sign up when they arrive at the park. There is no cost to enter the contest.
Roach said the costume categories are best overall, best family, scariest, cutest, most creative and best group. The winner of each category will receive a prize. City staff members will judge the entries.
“I love the different costumes,” Roach said. “Especially, the creative families who make their own costumes. I would say 99.9 percent of the kids who come are in costumes, and it is fun to watch.”
A limited number of personal fire pits are available to rent for $60. To see if fire pits are still available or for information about the event, call 636-282-6686.
“The kids love the huge screen for the movie, and with all of the fire pits, it is just a fun setting,” Roach said. “I think it is cool to watch a movie outside on a massive screen.”