In short
Mayor Dave Maughan writes that the city council decided several years ago to make Syracuse the best place in the area to celebrate Halloween, which is how “Scarycuse” started. For a few weeks the city changes its logo and some banners around town, and it runs extra October activities. The column points residents to three ways to take part: reserving a free pumpkin for the Pumpkin Walk through the Community Center, entering the Candy Haunted House contest, and registering a decorated home for judging. A map of the decorated homes goes online October 20.
Dates and deadlines
- October 20 Map of registered Halloween home decorating entries is available online
Everything else
Scarycuse
- The council chose to focus on Halloween rather than compete with other cities’ spending on more commercial holidays, and the Scarycuse identity grew out of that decision
- During the season the city swaps its logo and some banners around town and adds activities
Ways to take part
- Pumpkin Walk: reserve a pumpkin for free through the Syracuse Community Center at 801-614-9660 opt. 1, pick it up, and return it for display
- Candy Haunted House creation contest: judged on the final night of the Pumpkin Walk, with prizes in an adult (18+) and a children’s (under 18) division
- Halloween home decorating contest: residents register their homes for judging and prizes are awarded for the best displays in the city
- Night at the Museum runs on the Friday night of the Pumpkin Walk
- The column also points to the Black Island Farms corn maze and harvest festival and to trunk-or-treat events held around town
The mayor’s case for it
- He writes that creative activity boosts mental acuity, relieves stress, and raises self-esteem, citing studies referenced by the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine, and encourages people to try one of the city’s creative activities even if they don’t consider themselves creative
- He writes that trick-or-treating and walking the neighborhood carry social and wellness benefits and build a sense of community tradition
- He writes that the October activities have boosted the local economy, as visiting friends and family shop, eat, and buy gas while in town
Contact listed in the issue: Mayor Dave Maughan, [email protected], 801-927-7752
Unofficial digest of a city newsletter. The official version is linked below.
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