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BOOFEST!
CHILLICOTHE BOOFEST
2007
Annual Boofest Draws 1,500
Trick-or-Treaters
Published: Thursday, November 1, 2007,
C-T
 CAPTION:
Pat Wehrle (right) dressed as Spongebob
Squarepants, handed out candy in near Janet McCauslin's American Family Insurance Agency near the corner of Washington and Webster Streets.
Ghosts and witches, princesses and superheros lined the streets of downtown Chillicothe yesterday (Wednesday) for the annual Boofest, the city's downtown and around town trick-or-treat event.
Around 1,500 children paraded down the sidewalks of the square and other areas in town gathering Halloween goodies. The annual event is sponsored by the Chillicothe Area Chamber and Main Street Chillicothe.
“Boofest went very well,” said Crystal Narr, director of Main Street
Chillicothe. “We had great weather and all of the businesses seemed to be really pleased with the amount of kids.”
There were over 70 participating businesses merchants and organizations represented in the Boofest event, handing out everything from candy bars and suckers to kettle corn and other Halloween treats.
“We want to thank all the participating businesses and families for their support of Boofest,” said Charles Parrish, Boofest chairman. “Also, thanks to the Chillicothe Police Department and Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services, along with Chamber and Main Street volunteers who kept the event safe.”
As always, the Livingston County Library is one of the more popular places to trick-or-treat. Library officials report that a total of 1,278 books were given away this year during the Boofest event.
CHILLICOTHE BOOFEST
2006
Organizers Say 1,300
Trick-or-Treaters Gathered for Annual Event
By LAURA SCHULER/C-T City Editor,
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
 CAPTION:
A crowd of trick-or-treaters and their parents gathered around Candie Skipper and other employees of Investors National Bank last (Tuesday) night during the fifth annual Boofest, sponsored by Main Street Chillicothe. Around 1,300 trick-or-treaters made the rounds around the courthouse square and other participating merchants around
town.
Photo and Caption by C-T
City Editor Laura Schuler
It was a chilly 41 degrees yesterday (Tuesday) at its warmest, but that didn't stop the throng of trick-or-treaters and their parents from attending Main Street Chillicothe's fifth annual Boofest held around town from 4 to 6 p.m.
“The weather could have been warmer, but we had a wonderful crowd,” Garni Churan, Main Street Chillicothe director said today (Wednesday).
Around 1,300 children donned costumes ranging from witches and ghouls to pumpkins and princesses, and paraded down the sidewalks of the square and elsewhere in town in hopes of Halloween goodies.
There were over 50 participating merchants and organizations represented in yesterday's event, handing out everything from candy bars and suckers to kettle corn, pencils and rings.
Of course, one of the more popular stopping places was the Livingston County Library where 1,270 books were given to trick-or-treaters.
Phyllis Harkness, assistant to the children's librarian, reported today (Tuesday) that there were a few more trick-or-treaters at the library this year, than last year, noting that 1,200 books were distributed in 2005.
“Everything went so smooth this year,” Harkness said. She explained that each child entered the library and chose a book themselves. The library buys books for the event throughout the year from funds donated by Friends of the Library and individual donations.
New this year was a pumpkin-carving contest and according to Churan, several merchants entered. A panel of three judges examined the pumpkins entered and gave first, second and third place prizes to the winners.
CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS of the BOOFEST PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST
- 1st Place Winner: Gaslight Real Estate
(displayed in the window of Staton Abstract & Title)
- 2nd Place Winner: Hy-Vee
(displayed at Hy-Vee)
- 3rd Place Winner: Livingston County Title Company
(displayed in their window at 705 Webster)
Thank you to all the participants and the judges in this first ever Boofest Pumpkin Carving Contest. We would appreciate any comments or suggestions as we plan for next year.
Boofest Committee: Staci Baker, chair, Garni Churan, Maria Peters, Linda Beetsma, Charley Merrill, Brian Englert, and Kathy Anderson.
Boofest is sponsored by Main Street Chillicothe and the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce.
CHILLICOTHE BOOFEST 2005
Boofest Draws Huge
Costumed Crowd
C-T Article 11
01 05, Laura Schuler, C-T City Editor
The Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Boofest drew costumed characters of all ages to Chillicothe to trick-or-treat local merchants.
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Children and their parents walk along the sidewalks in downtown Chillicothe
on October 31 for the annual Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Boofest.
C-T Photos/Laura Schuler
Mutant Ninja Turtles, Count Draculas and pirates rubbed shoulders with princesses, lady bugs, lions and even household appliances during the annual Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Boofest. |
Over 50 businesses and organizations participated in the event, helping approximately 1,500 children dressed in a multitude of costumes fill their bags with assorted treats and goodies between 4 and 6 p.m.
“I love Boofest because you get tons of candy every year,” Elizabeth Warren, 9, said while waiting for a bag of popcorn distributed by the Chillicothe Elks Lodge at the corner of Jackson and Locust Streets.
Elizabeth was dressed as a washing machine, complete with fabric softener and stray socks - an idea she and her mother, Laura, came up with while flipping through a magazine. She was one of many children who received popcorn yesterday.
 Marvin Holcer, a past exalted ruler of the Chillicothe Elks Lodge, reported
that he and fellow Elks members handed out 1,500 sacks of popcorn during the two-hour event and said even though the costumed kids had to wait for their popcorn, they did so patiently.
“The kids last night
were well-mannered, very patient and very polite,” Holcer said, noting that at one time, the line to get popcorn stretched across Jackson Street and down the next block of Locust Street.
“My first thought was that the kids wouldn't stand in line for popcorn, but they did and 90 percent of them offered their thanks - they were perfect,” Holcer said.
Holcer helped hand out popcorn with his wife, Joan, Everett Shipp, David Rupp, Darold Booth, and Blake Rasmussen.
Press Release
10/13/05
On Halloween, Monday, October 31, from 4pm to 6pm, Chillicothe downtown streets will be filled with over a thousand young children in costume for “Boofest”, Chillicothe’s downtown and around town trick-or-treat event. For the past six years local businesses have opened their doors to area children offering them a safe trick or treating experience. According to Main Street and Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce organizers, over 50 local businesses and organizations have signed up for this year’s event.
Dan Leatherman, Chamber President, says, “The Chamber is pleased to work with Main Street and local businesses and organizations to offer this safe trick-or-treating event for our community’s children. We appreciate the participation of the businesses and the cooperation of the City of Chillicothe which makes this event fun for everyone.”
Pam Jarding, Main Street Chillicothe says, “Boofest always attracts a large number of trick-or-treaters. Close to 1400 children were reported by businesses around the courthouse square in downtown Chillicothe at last year’s Boofest. She encourages parents to accompany their children.”
Streets bordering the downtown square will be blocked to accommodate the large numbers of children expected for “Boofest”. Chillicothe Police Officers along with volunteers from local businesses will assist motorists and trick or treaters from 4pm to 6pm.
Participating businesses will display an orange “Boofest” flyer on their window or door designating them as an official trick-or-treat location. “In an effort to encourage participants to buy their candy locally, Piggly Wiggly, Hy-Vee, and Wal-Mart SuperCenter will offer Halloween candy at a discount price to Boofest participants presenting the discount candy card. Flyers and discount candy cards are available to participating businesses and organizations at the Chillicothe Commerce Center,”according to Barb Burton, Chamber Executive Vice President. All Chillicothe businesses or organizations interested in participating should register with the Chillicothe Commerce Center. Chamber of Commerce members and Main Street Association members will be included on a map that will appear in a later edition of local papers.
The Livingston County Library will be giving books “while supplies last”. Organizations are encouraged to join the fun and participate by sponsoring an activity.
“Boofest” is an annual event sponsored by
Main Street Chillicothe and the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce.
Photo and
Caption by C-T City Editor Laura Schuler 2004
The sidewalks lining downtown Chillicothe were filled to the brim with
trick-or-treaters and their parents on Halloween during the fourth annual
BooFest, sponsored by Main Street Chillicothe and the Chillicothe Area
Chamber of Commerce.
According to
officials, almost 90 merchants participated in the last event and
distributed candy to approximately 1,400 children.
For more information
about next year's event, contact
Main Street at 752-6172
or Barb Burton at 646-4050.
Thanks to all the merchants who
participate and to the volunteers who make the event possible!
Portions of the C-T article
by Laura Schuler:
Despite the cool temperature on Halloween, 1,200 to 1,300 children dressed
as everything from ghosts and goblins to princesses and pumpkins to
participate in the third annual BooFest. The event is sponsored by Main
Street Chillicothe and the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce.
Approximately 80
businesses throughout Chillicothe participated in the first BooFest, with
employees handing out treats for area children who visited the participating
businesses all around town.
Businesses that took
part in the annual event stretched from Barnes Baker Motors on the north
side of town, to Wal-Mart and the Grand River Inn on the south side of
Chillicothe. A few businesses on the east end of town, including Morningside
Center and stores in Park Center Shopping Center, also gave candy to
trick-or-treaters.
New in later years
following the Boo Fest was a street dance, held on the east side of the
Livingston County courthouse from 6 until 9 p.m. According to Doug Dennis,
member of the chamber's retail and service committee and one of about 10
chaperones for the dance, about 55 students (mostly in middle school)
attended the dance, which had several sponsors. The cold weather played a
huge role in the number of kids attending the dance. He expressed special
thanks to the Chillicothe Lions Club, which provided coffee and hot
chocolate to help the students stay warm.
The first CHS Haunted House, which
operated out of a vacant building on the square, also drew a large crowd on Halloween
night. School officials report that 183 people navigated the two-story haunted house,
organized by Principal Bob Levy and by students from Chillicothe High School. The haunted
house was also open every week night prior to Halloween, as well as a few nights last
week. The haunted house was a fund-raiser to raise money for the CHS Players and the MAP
initiative field trip to Worlds of Fun.
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