Halloween is right around the corner, and Romeo has offered many ways to celebrate it over the years. This includes the downtown Romeo Halloween/Fall Event that took place on Saturday, October 26, 1996. That's almost exactly 30 years ago this year.
The Romeo Observer detailed the occasion in their October 30, 1996 issue and displayed the photo above on the front page. Taken by Larry Sobczak, it shows a group of kids and parents waiting to hear the results of the costume judging portion of the event at Village Park. The children wear a variety of outfits like clowns, a pumpkin, an old man, an old lady, a wizard, the Tin Man, a butterfly, and Minnie Mouse. The Romeo Monday Club ran the costume contest and awarded prizes in four age categories.
That contest wasn't the only thing happening that day. At the Village Park, people could decorate pumpkins and carmel apples, get their faces painted, buy flowers, ride on fire engines, and eat cider and donuts. On Main Street, attendees could trick-or-treat for candy, prizes, and discounts at local merchants. Visitors could also eat free apples and see displays of painted pumpkins created by Romeo High School students for a judging contest.
John Mielcarek took the following pictures of other happenings that day. The first displays Justin Peyerk posing as a wizard with a werewolf at the Wunch with the Werewolf put on by the Romeo and Washington Lions Clubs at the high school. The second shows Dawn Kulman and her daughters, Sharra and Megan, coloring.
The Romeo Downtown Development Authority, the Romeo-Washington Chamber of Commerce (now the Northern Macomb Regional Chamber of Commerce), the Downtown Merchants Association, area businesses, orchards, and service organizations sponsored the event. According to the article about the celebration in The Romeo Observer's October 23rd edition, organizers "say the event is designed to bring the Romeo community together in an event that highlights the produce of the area as well as foster awareness of the downtown shopping district."
Judging from the photos above, it seems like the event did its job by bringing people together.
Now, you're probably wondering who won the costume contest. The October 30th issue had the answer for half the categories. Romeo 10-year-olds Jamie Boyce (#23), Sarah VanTongerilo (#24), and Jennifer Jones (#25) were the winners in their division. They can be also be seen in the photo at the very top.
For the 18 and older division, Deanna Doyle of Shelby Township (vampire), Denise Laurainer of Romeo (cow), and Linda Dixon of Romeo (Mickey Mouse) nabbed the top spots. Larry Sobczak snapped the pictures of the winners.
I'm glad that everyone had a good time at the downtown Romeo Halloween/Fall Event in 1996. It certainly brought many people together.
Have a safe and wonderful Halloween!
To learn more about the past Halloween events in Romeo, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890. If you want to search for articles on that topic, you can find the Romeo newspapers like The Romeo Observer on the Suburban Library Cooperative's Local History Digital Collection website.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, October 23, 1996, p.1-A and p.9-A and October 30, 1996, p.1-A and p.3-A