VALLONIA

Starve Hollow put the “hallow” in Halloween on Saturday with a celebration that included plenty of activities for the young and old alike.

The activities available at the popular state recreation area south of Vallonia in southern Jackson County were a pumpkin decorating contest, a costume contest, a campsite decorating contest and trick-or-treating.

There also was a haunted schoolhouse attraction for the brave at heart.

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Sierra Jackson, naturalist at Starve Hollow, said the haunted school theme for this year’s Halloween celebration was selected a year ago. Organizers then collected items throughout the year to make the haunted school spooky.

“We collected props for the house all year, but basically started really planning it in May,” she said.

Jackson said she thought attendance was down a little throughout the day and blamed it on the cooler weather and rain over the past several days.

Even though colder weather was on tap Saturday, Jackson said she expected more than 400 people to pass through the campgrounds trick-or-treating and attending the haunted attraction.

“We have sites that fill up six months in advance,” said Jackson of the annual Halloween celebration at the 280-acre property.

The first Halloween celebration at Starve Hollow was held in 2007 and it’s been growing bigger with each passing year. Fall also is a great time to visit Starve Hollow and Skyline Drive as the leaves have begun to change color and fall.

Joann Branaman, who spent the weekend camping in one of 168 campsites, handed out candy to children dressed in popular costumes including Disney-like figures, cartoon characters, superheros, and ghosts, goblins and ghouls.

“It’s a good time to see all the kids dressed up and pass out candy,” she said.

Branaman said her family loves camping and participating in Halloween activities and have spent the past four or five years at Starve Hollow.

“It’s just a great community event,” she said. “I like seeing the friends and family in such a fun family-friendly environment.”

For many of the children who attend the event, there’s only one thing that’s really important.

“The candy,” said Taylor Treadway, “I like chocolate the best I think.”

Aubree Prewitt also said liked getting candy, but added she also like getting to see the other kids in dressed up for trick-or-treating.

Many liked the safe, environment the event provided for the children.

The costume contest was held before the trick-or-treating, at 4 p.m., and the haunted school attraction was opened after trick-or-treating end at 7 p.m.

Visitors had to pay $7 to enter the state recreation area.

Jackson said that the event requires a large number of staffers and volunteers to make it happen each year. The group will take some time off then begin planning again for next year’s event.

Sponsors donate most of the items that Starve Hollow uses for the event, including but not limited to the prizes for the top 13 campsites.

Sponsors also gave special prices on supplies for other activities such as the pumpkin decorating and scarecrow decorating contests.