The sun broke through the clouds just in time for hundreds of families to descend on Marian Fryer Town Plaza in downtown Wheaton, Maryland, for the 2nd annual HalloWheaton event on Sunday afternoon.
(WTOP/Sarah Jacobs)
The event, sponsored by the Wheaton Urban District and Montgomery County Recreation, featured family activities including pumpkin painting, face painting, craft projects, s’mores roasting, and lawn games. A DJ also provided music on the main stage where the costume contest was held.
Organizers also set up a couple of “escape rooms,” where Dan Bucherer and his daughter Vittoria, cleverly disguised as Anna from Disney’s “Frozen,” were waiting in line.
“I don’t know what the way out is,” Vittoria said, sounding a little doubtful about the activity. Her dad might have been even more nervous.
“This is the circus-themed one,” he said. “So if there’s clowns, I’m out.”
In addition to the games and activities tents, there were information booths, treats and giveaways from Montgomery County Recreation and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School initiative.
Representatives were also on hand to get the word out about Montgomery County’s new Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Families lined up to see inside one of the new lime-green electric buses, decorated inside and out for the Halloween festivities.
The organizers also had cakes and treat bags, plus hot chocolate for the kids. For adults, the event featured a beer garden. All proceeds from beer and wine sales will go to Mid-County United Ministries, a local nonprofit that provides emergency food and assistance to people in need.
