The second weekend of October brings the fun of Halloween to downtown Chillicothe with the annual Chillicothe Halloween Festival taking place in Yoctangee Park. The festival opens on Friday, October 8th and will continue daily through Sunday, October 10th. Admission is free to the event but there are charges for some of the activities such as inflatables, contests, and games.
This year’s event features a wide assortment of merchandise vendors, festival food favorites, a kids’ zone, live entertainment, a car show/cruise-in, costume contest, coffin races, the Green Goblin Project and much more. The Green Goblin Project returns to this year’s festival! This film prop was made famous in the 1986 movie, Maximum Overdrive, based on a Stephen King story. Patrons will be able to see the prop and exhibit all weekend during the festival.
Entertainment this year includes many popular local and regional bands including Felony4, Ben Davis Jr., Kenny Valentine Band, Far From Angels, Shawn Avery, along with Phillip Murphy – a fan favorite from season 19 of American Idol. Opening the live entertainment on Friday evening will be Lori Graves and Karen Jaffe for comedy before Felony4 takes the stage. Patrons are encouraged to bring along lawn chairs or blankets to sit down and enjoy the entertainment at the main stage.
The Kids’ Zone features inflatables and bounce houses along with games to win prizes. Following the costume contest on Saturday will be a trunk-or-treat event from the participants of the car show/cruise-in. Rules and entry forms for the costume contest can be downloaded from the festival’s website prior to the event and at the information tent during the event. Winners of the costume contest will receive monetary prizes.
A festival favorite, the Coffin Races, will return on Sunday, October 10th. Participants will be racing soap-box derby style in their coffins down through the center of Yoctangee Park. The top three coffin racers will receive medals and cash prizes. Race entry and rules can be found on the festival’s website and at the information tent during the festival.
Although much of the festival has grown since 2019, the committee is sad to report that the haunted house will not take place this year due to the pandemic. They anticipate a haunted house, or another haunted attraction will return in 2022.
Additionally, there will be raffles at the information tent during the festival. For more information or to get a copy of the entertainment schedule visit www.ChillicotheHalloweenFestival.com
The festival will operate Friday, October 8th from 11am – 10pm, Saturday, October 9th at 10am until 10pm, and Sunday, October 10th from 10am and closing at 5pm.