Time to practice your pumpkin rolling technique for BatFest
Who says you can't have fun in Batavia? This weekend promises more laughs than a gaggle of giggling ghosts.
Head on downtown to BatFest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and you are sure to find quite a few things to smile about.
Kids in costume can safely trick-or-treat at Batavia businesses between 10 a.m. and noon. And they can show off their costumes in the Mother's Club Halloween parade and costume contest at 1 p.m.
One of the biggest laugh-inducing activities is back again this year for more fun. The popular Pumpkin Roll will return for more mayhem on the Houston Hill.
I asked Britta McKenna, director of Batavia Mainstreet for some inside tips but she was reluctant to give away any secrets.
"I can tell you what you shouldn't do," she said. "Don't throw overhand. It doesn't work."
She also recommended not throwing any pumpkin purchased a month earlier.
"They don't go very far and they ooze all the way down," she added.
McKenna also shared the two-handed bowling ball roll seems to be good for a straight line. However, any oblong or bumpy pumpkin can really cause the pumpkin to go down Water Street rather than Houston. There are no running starts for power pitch and all practicing must be done in the privacy of your own driveway.
"We did do a test run before the event last year," she added. "We wanted to see how far the pumpkins would go."
The committee learned that a pumpkin can roll pretty dog gone far when rolled on a steep incline like the Houston hill. Consequently, the entire street will be blocked off for the pumpkin roll from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
"It was a really fun event to watch last year but the spectators have to be aware of the pumpkins at all times," said McKenna. "No one really knows where the pumpkins are headed. A couple of people at the bottom of the hill weren't paying attention last year and almost collided with a pumpkin."
You can bring your own pumpkin or purchase one from the Boy Scouts who will be at the race selling their pumpkins. There is a $1 entry fee for every pumpkin rolled.
Halloween ball: You can get additional use of this year's costumes on Friday, Oct. 30, when the Water Street Studios has its Halloween Masquerade from 7 to 10 p.m. This event is open to high school age students and adults.
The masquerade is promoting 3D dancing which is a bit frightening. My dancing is bad enough in 2D.
"It just means that we will be dancing in the 3D art gallery," said Water Street Studio marketing director, Sharon Sychta. "It was formerly a storage area and has really high ceilings. We will decorate the space and we have a great DJ to play a variety of music."
Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will benefit Water Street Studios.