More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
The 5K4Kids Run/Walk and FREE Halloween Festival is celebrating its 10th year this year. Join us at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5 for the race and stay for games, prizes food and fun. Each year this Framingham event has raised more than $100,000 to benefit kids in our care. Past years’ proceeds have been used to purchase holiday gifts and pay for extracurricular activities.
You’ve already decided you aren’t going to be a Frozen character or a zombie, or a combination of the two for Halloween this year. Rather, you’re thinking of something with a bit of Wellesley flair. If you’re really stuck, here are a few swell costume ideas to consider.
*Wellesley Sleepwalker. Yes, the controversial sculpture that graced Wellesley College’s campus earlier this year might be considered old news at this point. But given that he showed up over the winter, he missed last Halloween. Pick up some Halloween-themed undies, a balding wig (if you need one) and you’ll add a creepy element to any party. And don’t tell us it’s too cold for this outfit — the original sleepwalker stood out there in the snow night after night.
*E. coli. Thankfully, the Great Wellesley E. coli Scare of 2014 resulted more in inconvenience than sickness. But it also sparked an idea for a Halloween costume. Get together a goopy looking monster outfit, and be sure to accentuate with some bottled water.
*North 40. Just add the Number 40 to a costume like this, and voila, you’re bound to spark yet another discussion about the controversial Wellesley College property.
*Brick house or monster. You know how Wellesley scooped up all those bricks from our sidewalks and crosswalks earlier this year in an effort to repair the crumbling infrastructure and prevent people from stumbling on loose ones? We know some of you must have stockpiled some of those bricks for future use.
Reminder: Many trick-or-treaters will be carrying UNICEF boxes to collect spare change (checks can be made out to “U.S. Fund for Unicef”) to help kids around the world who have been victims of war, natural disasters, child exploitation, or outbreaks of disease.
A classic neighborhood haunted house returns to Wellesley this year at 67 Whittier Rd., where the theme will be “The Sanatorium of Horror.” (Wellesley, by the way, once was home to a real sanitarium.)
The Thames family last year didn’t host a haunted house due to some major construction. Previously, they had creeped out the Poets’ Corner neighborhood for about 10 years straight. The theme in 2012 was Haunted Forest.
MORE HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS HERE
Bates Pumpkin Fair (including haunted house), Saturday, Oct. 18, 10am-2pm
WHAT: The Bates Pumpkin Fair is coming up and newcomers and longtime attendees are
welcomed! This community-wide event for children and adults features games, prizes, moon bounces, raffles, haunted house, craft activities, lots of goodies, auction and pumpkins for sale.
Local businesses show their support through purchased sponsorships and donating raffle items.
Parents of children in the Bates community volunteer and staff all the booths and activities the day of the fair. Attendees from all around Metrowest come out to celebrate the season in a safe, fun, family environment. Admission is free but tickets can be purchased and redeemed for many games and activities.
RAIN OR SHINE
WHERE: Bates Elementary School
116 Elmwood Road
Wellesley, MA 02481
WHY: The Pumpkin Fair is an annual fundraiser for the Bates PTO. Proceeds from the
Pumpkin Fair go directly to Bates and benefit every student. Money raised allows the PTO to offer fantastic creative arts programs, books for the library, the latest teaching technology, classroom supplies and more.
For more information on the Bates PTO or the Pumpkin Fair visit us online at www.batespto.org.
Wellesley holding Howlin’ Haunted Halloween house decorating contest (deadline Oct. 20).
Gussy up your house for Halloween and win fabulous prizes and bragging rights, courtesy of the Wellesley Recreation Department.
The house decorating contest deadline is Oct. 20, and prizes will be awarded in several categories: scariest, judge’s choice, best theme, most creative and funniest.
Email a picture of your house or a neighbor’s house [email protected], including the address of the decorated house. If the house has lights, take day and night pictures. The Boo Crew of judges will be knocking on doors, trophies in hand on the evening of Oct. 23.
Halloween Trick or Treat Parade (Saturday, Oct. 25, 11am-1pm): Starts at Dorset Tea, 325 Washington St. Wear your costume, trick or treat at Wellesley Hills businesses. Ages 0-8.
Halloween party at Wellesley Hills Library, 12pm-2pm, Saturday Oct. 25
Come scary (or sweet) in your Halloween costume and join us for these fun and festive Halloween celebrations. Stories, crafts, treats and more! All ages invited.
Wellesley Kiwanis Pumpkin Race, Oct. 26, 10am-noon at Wellesley Middle School at Calvin Road parking lot (race hill goes down to sports fields).
Build, race, decorate fastest pumpkin on wheels. Suggested donation to participate is $10 to raise funds for Doug Garron Toy Fund. Craft your Pumpkin Race Car using a single pumpkin; Insert two independent axles through your pumpkin and attach wheels to the axles; You may not attach your pumpkin onto a pre-fabricated chassis of any kind (skateboard, Stroller, Tonka Truck, etc., etc.); No explosives or pyrotechnics;No pushing or “helping” your Pumpkin Racer on the starting line. Our race officials will be watching-no last minute shove, hidden thumb flicks, early releases or remote controls; Award categories are: Most Creative Pumpkin, Best Pumpkin Crash, and Race Winners (champion, second and third place).
Haunted House on Oct. 25, 6-9pm
A classic neighborhood haunted house returns to Wellesley this year at 67 Whittier Rd., where the theme will be “The Sanatorium of Horror.”
The Thames family last year didn’t host a haunted house due to some major construction. Previously, it had creeped out the Poets’ Corner neighborhood for about 10 years straight. The theme in 2012 was Haunted Forest.
Haunted Open Tower at Wellesley College (Galen Tower…the tall haunted looking one). Sunday, Oct. 26, 2-4pm
Featuring spooky music; guests encouraged to come in costume.
The Dana Hall School of Music Halloween Open House with Musical Trick-or-Treating (2-4pm, Oct. 26)
Families with children of all ages are invited to come in costume and experience this unique and free event, which is open to the public. In addition to candy, children can participate in a musical scavenger hunt, finding a different instrument to explore behind each door including pianos, violas, drums and even an erhu (Chinese fiddle). There also will be a room for young children to participate in a seasonal sing-along with age appropriate instruments to play.
The School of Music is located at 103 Grove St. in Wellesley. For more information, visit www.danahall.org/schoolofmusic, call (781) 237-6542 or e-mail [email protected]
Halloween party at Wellesley Free Library main branch, Oct. 28, 3-4pm
Come scary (or sweet) in your Halloween costume and join us for these fun and festive Halloween celebrations. Stories, crafts, treats and more! All ages invited.
*The community is invited to join Wellesley Dental Group’s 7th Annual Community Candy Drive to benefit the U.S. Troops serving overseas. From November 3rd to November 14th, we will be collecting candy, handwritten notes and cards for our soldiers.
Our goal is to teach the kids lessons in giving by encouraging them to share the extra Halloween candy with our troops oversees. M&Ms and the handwritten cards are a little treat that remind soldiers of home. The packages will be sent via CarePacks, a non-profit organization, along with oral hygiene supplies.
We are inviting all schools and organizations to participate in our Press Event – November 14th at 10:00 am. Local media and photographers will capture our community’s generosity. Principals, faculty, parents, and students (with the permission from their teachers, of course) are welcome to attend.
To schedule a candy drop-off, please call (781-237-9071) or email us ([email protected]).
The Bates Pumpkin Fair is a community-wide event for children and adults features games, prizes, moon bounces, raffles, haunted house, craft activities, lots of goodies, auction and pumpkins for sale.
Local businesses show their support through purchased sponsorships and donating raffle items.
Parents of children in the Bates community volunteer and staff all the booths and activities the day of the fair. Attendees from all around Metrowest come out to celebrate the season in a safe, fun, family environment. Admission is free but tickets can be purchased and redeemed for many games and activities.
WHEN: Saturday, October 18th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
RAIN OR SHINE
WHERE: Bates Elementary School
116 Elmwood Road
Wellesley, MA 02481
WHY: The Pumpkin Fair is an annual fundraiser for the Bates PTO. Proceeds from the
Pumpkin Fair go directly to Bates and benefit every student. Money raised allows the PTO to offer fantastic creative arts programs, books for the library, the latest teaching technology, classroom supplies and more.
For more information on the Bates PTO or the Pumpkin Fair visit us online at www.batespto.org,
Find us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter @Bates Fair.
Gussy up your house for Halloween and win fabulous prizes and bragging rights, courtesy of the Wellesley Recreation Department.
The house decorating contest deadline is Oct. 20, and prizes will be awarded in several categories: scariest, judge’s choice, best theme, most creative and funniest.
Email a picture of your house or a neighbor’s house to [email protected], including the address of the decorated house. If the house has lights, take day and night pictures. The Boo Crew of judges will be knocking on doors, trophies in hand on the evening of Oct. 23.
And if you can’t get your act together for Halloween, rest assured there will be a winter wonderland decorating contest too come December.
A group of costumed runners seen along Rte. 16 Halloween morning…
