By Alicia Kelso

Break out the cauldron, carve up the pumpkin and sew the costume. It’s time to get into the Halloween spirit.

Few communities show as much of that spirit as Dublin, with its annual Spooktacular event.

This year’s event will be from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Coffman Park and the Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 Post Rd. And it will be bigger and better than ever.

New to Spooktacular is a movie area, where kids can gather to watch flicks on an outdoor screen throughout the event. The City of Dublin, which hosts Spooktacular, borrowed the idea from the Irish Festival, where the movie area was very successful among the younger crowd.

“The screen does not distort images during the day, so they’ll be able to watch movies throughout the entire event. We’re very excited about this addition and we think it will get a wonderful response,” says Mary Jo DiSalvo, Dublin event administrator. “Just like with all of our events, we will continue to add and enhance each year.”

Also new this year is a “pumpkin carving show,” featuring two area artists who will carve two pumpkins weighing about 150 pounds each. They will also carve 30 “regular” sized pumpkins with various images and children’s names while they interact with the crowd.

Spooktacular has been a success for a reason: its full day of activities and abundance of choices for kids and their parents. There is something for everyone at this event-packed Dublin staple.

Old favorites such as the fortune telling area, crafts and hay rides will return. The “Freaky Finds” exhibit will also return, where children can sink their hands into mysterious substances imitating materials like brain matter, eyeballs and Frankenstein’s hair.

The craft station will include a tattoo station, ghost lollipops, pumpkin decorating and more. There also will be a corn toss, pumpkin bowling, the haunted trail, an Ohio Wildlife representative with animals and the very-popular inflatable area.

“The inflatable area is something everyone always loves, and it is the only part of the entire event that may cost some money, besides refreshments from our food vendors,” DiSalvo says. “You can come to Spooktacular with no money and have a really good time.”

The DCRC also will transform into a candy free-for-all, as various businesses and organizations line up their decorated cars for Trunk or Treat.

That evening, the Monster Mash Dance (with a disc jockey and dance contests) returns for middle school students in grades 6 through 8 at the DCRC. It will be fully chaperoned and school IDs will be checked for admittance.

“With the dance, as with the entire event, safety and security is foremost. As long as people know they have a nice, safe place to go where the whole family can have fun, this event will continue to be a success,” DiSalvo says.

The Spooktacular has attracted a crowd of approximately 8,000 in the past few years. DiSalvo anticipates the same number this year, if not more. As usual, everyone is encouraged to wear a costume to show off their full Halloween spirit.

“We always find entire families dressed up because that’s part of the fun,” DiSalvo says. “We just love providing a venue to unite the Dublin community and bring out the kid in everyone. That’s the mission of Spooktacular.”

For more information about the event, visit www.dublin.oh.us.

Alicia Kelso is editor of Dublin Life.


While you’re celebrating the spirit of Halloween, be sure and mark your calendar for these events.

Oct. 10-13
Oakland Nursery Fall Festival
Oakland Nursery, Dublin location, 4261 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., 614-874-2400, www.oaklandnursery.com
See some of the largest pumpkins in the country at the 7th annual National Pumpkin Weigh-Off at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 12. There will be special guests, artists, wildlife animals, music and more throughout the weekend, which will also feature store specials of up to 50 percent off. Shoppes at River Ridge will be running a trolley throughout the event.

Oct. 17-19 and 24-26
Boo at the Zoo
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Dr., Powell, 614-645-3550, www.columbuszoo.org
This Halloween extravaganza includes a haunted train ride, candy stations, storytellers, magicians among other exhibits. The 10th annual Pumpkin Smash will be held Oct. 18 and 25.

Oct. 30
Beggar’s Night
6-8 p.m., all neighborhoods
Kids are invited to dress up and haunt their neighborhoods for the night.