Approaches to Halloween differ around town
You can see it by the pumpkins, skeletons, and witches cropping up in front of houses all over town.
Halloween is almost here.
Next Thursday, Oct. 31, marks the day when hordes of youngsters go from house to house searching for Hershey's bars and tiny tubes of Sweet Tarts.
However, not all Hillsboro parents are in favor of Halloween. For them, the local school system has provided an atmosphere that allows their children to respect their beliefs.
At Hillsboro Elementary School, a parade for all costumed children is held each Halloween afternoon. This year, the parade starts at 2:30 p.m. and progresses from the elementary building to the high school gymnasium.
At the gym, each class takes turn parading in front of their fellow students, displaying their costumes.
But for the past several years, parents have had the option of keeping their children out of the parade. They remain at the school with a couple of adults to supervise, said HES Principal Pat Call.
During that time, those students spend time reading. But parents also have the option of picking their children up from school at that time, Call said.
This has been going on for about four or five years now, Call said. Around 20 students usually opt out of the parade.
And for those who do choose to dress up for Halloween, costume regulations have been modified.
Costume guidelines were clarified earlier this year. They include no weapons, fake or real; nothing gory or bloody; and nothing deliberately offensive. All costumes must still follow dress code guidelines, Call said.
The overall goal is to be funny, not scary, he said.
Outside of school, the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce continues a Halloween tradition this year: Trick or Treat on Main Street.
This annual event has been going on for at least a decade, said chamber president Jeanie Reiswig.
This year's event will run from 5 to 6:30 p.m. It's ending a little early because of the Hillsboro High School football game that night, Reiswig said.
Around 500 children usually turn out each year, Reiswig said.
