‘The Freaks Come Out at Night’ | Beloved East Point Halloween tradition is resurrected in East Point
Over 1,500 trick-or-treaters descended upon Jefferson Park for the long-awaited return of the Bryan Ave Halloween Spooktacular.
“They're Baaaack!" - Poltergeist II
EAST POINT, Ga. — After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of Halloween fanatics or ‘Haunters’ as the kids say were definitely feeling the itch to celebrate their favorite holiday the way it was always meant to – in the flesh.
That especially goes for the highly popular, some might even say cherished, Tri-Cities mainstay of the Bryan Ave Halloween Spooktakular.
For the uninitiated, this All Hallow’s Eve-themed block party has been happening on this seemingly non-descript block between Randall & Bayard of the Jefferson Park neighborhood for nearly a dozen years.
“Be afraid. Be very afraid." - The Fly
Since its inception, the event has grown from a handful of Halloween-obsessed neighbors decorating their homes for the holiday to ten to twelve houses almost encompassing the entire block.
“We weren't sure what to expect, how many people we would get, but we were 300 shy of our highest count,” marvels Stacy Fizell, one of the event's original organizers.
“We kind of picked right back up where we left off.”
Back in 2019, during the last in-person Spooktacular, the approximate total for individual trick-or-treaters was in excess of 1,800 per household.
This year’s final tally was just over 1,500 according to another long-term participant, Sheila Merritt, who along with her wife AT, saw a steady of costumed children from all over East Point and beyond this past Halloween.
“I see dead people" - The Sixth Sense
“Chief Buchanan and the East Point Police Department are excited to see the return of the Bryan Ave. Halloween event this year. Our officers working the event even called me to tell me how happy they were to be a part of the evening. It was a fun and festive night for everyone” states East Point Police Captain Allyn Glover in an email to Vox Pop ATL.
“We look forward to assisting with events all over East Point in the future as we all get back to our normal.”
Although the evening’s festivities went off without a hitch, there was a tinge of bittersweetness in the form of the noticeable absences of a couple of ‘founding families’ of the Bryan Avenue Halloween Spooktacular.
Namely, former Bryan Avenue resident and event founder, Dustin Forman who relocated to Coweta County along with his family during the pandemic.
“It was weird being on the other side. I don’t like it. I miss y’all,” Forman stated tearfully during the annual post-event debrief.
"We all float down here." - It
When asked about her takeaways from this year’s event, Fizell has this to share with Vox Pop ATL.
“Y’Know, we're not just neighbors. We're all really good friends, too. Many of us have lived here fifteen, twenty and become really like family.”
Next year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 31st, 2023.
For more information and updates about the Bryan Ave Halloween Spooktakular, visit their Facebook page.
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