Halloween haunts Yarram as spooky celebrations grow
Halloween haunts Yarram as spooky celebrations grow
Once a largely overlooked tradition, Halloween has evolved into a major community event in Yarram, with a full day of family entertainment planned for October 31.
In Australia, Victoria leads the way when it comes to interest in Halloween and Yarram is one of the small communities that is leading that trend.
Victoria is the most engage Australian state when it comes to Halloween according to Google Trend over the past five years.
Fifteen years ago, Halloween largely came and went in Yarram, with attention at this time of year more likely to focus on the costumes worn by Year 12 students celebrating their final day of school.
Today, the streets are preparing for a different kind of dress-up, as Halloween continues to grow in popularity and local families get ready for a day of spooky fun.
What began with a couple of local women encouraging residents to register their homes, display Halloween signs and welcome trick-or-treaters has developed into a town-wide celebration, bringing together families, businesses and community groups.
Their early efforts encouraged parents to walk the streets with their children and gave local businesses the opportunity to join in the fun.
Now, that initiative has grown beyond trick-or-treating, with Yarram Rotary Club, Wellington Shire Council and the Regent Theatre coming together to deliver the Halloween Spooktacular, offering activities for all ages.
The program will begin with Kookie Crafts at Yarram Scout Hall from 10am to 1pm, followed by trick-or-treating from Yarram Memorial Park between 3pm and 5.30pm.
Families can then enjoy a free sausage sizzle outside the Regent Theatre from 5pm to 6.30pm before the Halloween Family Ball takes over from 7pm until 10.30pm.
With a full day of activities planned, the focus is firmly on bringing the community together and giving families a chance to celebrate without having to travel far from home.
What will haunt the streets this Halloween?
As October 31 approaches, one question is on the minds of families: what costumes will make an appearance around Yarram this year?
Research shows that the top six most popular costumes sold instore this year have been
- Beetlejuice – striped clothing, pale makeup and wild hair.
- Harley Quinn – colourful clothes, playful makeup and mismatched accessories.
- The Grim Reaper – a dark robe and hood, or an inflatable version for a humorous twist.
- Supergirl – a superhero outfit inspired by the latest movie look.
- Wednesday Addams – braids, a dark dress and a serious expression.
- Ghostface – the familiar mask and dark clothing from Scream.
Families heading to the Halloween Family Ball could also coordinate their outfits, with themes including Bluey and the Heeler family, Inside Out, The Addams Family, Despicable Me, The Incredibles and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Gang.
But with household budgets under pressure, not everyone will be rushing out to buy a brand-new costume.
Many families are likely to revisit old Book Week outfits, search their wardrobes for something suitable or head to local op shops in search of affordable additions.
One local resident who enjoys the challenge of dressing up said creating a costume was often more about imagination than money.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune on new costumes each year, a little bit of makeup and some imagination with recycling and you can come up with a fun costume. Always remember to make a costume that is easy to wear!” they said.
From a few items of clothing and homemade accessories to a little face paint, a creative approach can turn everyday items into something spooky, funny or spectacular.
Whether the choice is a store-bought costume, a recycled Book Week outfit or something assembled at the last minute, the emphasis is on having fun and getting involved.
With Halloween now firmly part of Yarram's community calendar, residents can expect a colourful mix of ghosts, superheroes, cartoon characters and homemade creations.
And while the costumes might be frightening, the growing success of the Halloween Spooktacular shows that the real attraction is bringing the community together for a day of family fun.
