By: Summer Kelley, Staff Reporter

Pumpkin carving has become a tradition in Dade County with the annual pumpkin lighting on the square in Trenton.

Over the past few years, the annual lighting of pumpkins carved by area children and displayed around the square at Halloween has grown into a festival type event. Each year more activities are added by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and this year is no exception.

New to the pumpkin-lighting activities is the Halloween costume contest for adults and children that will be sponsored by the Dade County Chamber of Commerce. Adults are those ages 14 and over and children are those ages 13 and under. The winning adult costume will receive $75 and the winning child costume will receive $25. Judging for the contest is set to take place between 6:30 and 7 p.m.

The DDA is also sponsoring music for the enjoyment of those strolling through the pumpkins and taking part in the festivities. Refreshments will also be available for purchase at a nominal charge.

As in the past, the DDA will sponsor the scarecrow competition and entry forms for the scarecrows need to be turned in by Oct. 28. These entry forms can be obtained and returned at Trenton City Hall or at the Dade County Chamber of Commerce. The DDA is reserving the right to reject any scarecrow determined to be offensive or in bad taste. The winning scarecrow will be awarded $75, the second place scarecrow will receive $50 and the third place scarecrow will receive $25. The scarecrows will be displayed throughout Veterans Park on the square and judging will take place during the pumpkin lighting event.

The Dade County Library will also be joining the activities with trick-or-treating at the library from 4 until 6 p.m.  The library is also hosting its annual door decorating contest with prizes being awarded to the winner’s non-profit organization. The doors are decorated in book themes and can be seen during normal library hours or during trick-or-treating at the library.

Additionally, the library will be announcing the winners of the Library annual silent themed–basket auction. The themed–baskets are on display at the Dade County Library where bids for the baskets can be submitted.

The Dade County Library can be contacted for more information on any of the library’s pumpkin-lighting events at (706) 657-7857.

Trick-or-treating will also be available outside the library with the Optimist Club, the DDA, the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and individuals.

“We are just really encouraging everyone to come hand out candy on the square to provide a safe area for kids to do their trick-or-treating,” Debbie Tinker, director of the Dade County Chamber of Commerce, said.

The second annual Halloween costume contest for pets, sponsored by the Dade Animal Board, will be held at Veterans Park beginning at 3 p.m. 

More information on the contest and entry forms can be obtained from Ann Brown at (423) 505-1714.

The DDA, Chamber of Commerce, Dade County Library and local churches have been working with Ted Rumley, Jr., for the donation of pumpkins by Hartline’s Farm and to get the pumpkins carved and lit for this year’s event.

The pumpkin-lighting activities are all scheduled for this Saturday, Halloween night.

For more information on pumpkin lighting events contact Trenton City Hall at (706) 657-4167 or the Chamber of Commerce at (706) 657-4488.