The Great Pumpkin Party rises again

The Great Pumpkin Party kicked off its 27th year in Niwot with an immense crowd on Saturday, Oct. 26, with hundreds of trick-or-treaters in costume roaming the Niwot business district from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Local businesses, with owners and staff dressed in costumes themselves, gave out candy to the trick-or-treaters. The Left Hand Grange provided children's movies for youngsters who needed a short break from trick-or-treating.

The Niwot High School Key Club created another very popular spooky haunted house at the former feed store on Second Avenue, covering the building in spooky spider webs, with a large grim reaper looming over the entrance. The haunted house was open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a large line down Second Avenue during the entire Great Pumpkin Party. Volunteers from Niwot High School who made this possible included Jodi and Alex, co-presidents of the club, as well as William, Marissa, Ali, Maeve, Aliza, Julia, Liz, and Dash.

Stinky the Donkey patiently waited near the Niwot Compass Group real estate offices for children eager to give him lots of pets. A beautiful autumn photo booth was also set up near the Niwot Compass Group with a festive fall background that made it look like the party goers were sitting on a bench swing under falling leaves.

Scrapyard Izzy, a trio which plays several different genres of music, performed outside of Niwot Compass Group for the first few hours of the Great Pumpkin Party.

The parade of children and adults in costume filled the streets of Niwot, led by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, filling the street with the sound of "I Want Candy." A mass of wonderfully flashy costumes swarmed down Second Avenue, waving, taking pictures, and showing off their costumes, with a Mountain View Fire Rescue fire truck bringing up the rear.

After the parade, the fire truck parked near the Old Oak Coffeehouse, letting the children see the inner workings of a fire truck with firefighters available to answer questions. Partygoers could also take hayrides provided by Shadow Mountain Carriages throughout the event.

A dog costume contest began at 12:15 p.m. after the parade outside of The Old Oak Coffeehouse, where the most spooktacularly dressed pups could win pup-related prize baskets, provided by the contest's sponsor, Left Hand Animal Hospital.

The first-place winner this year was a fabulous homemade Sharknado costume. Second place went to Piper the dog, dressed as a skunk. Last but not least, the Pug Garden took third place, with three pugs dressed as a tomato, an eggplant, and a particularly sassy carrot that tried to steal the show by running off during the announcements. Estelle the dog, who was dressed as Ratatouille, earned an honorable mention from the judges as well.

In Cottonwood Square, outside of Chico's Grooming Studio, there were three magic trick shows at 10:15 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:30 p.m., performed by Ann Lincoln, who works with live animals in her performances and also does comedy and juggling routines as well as magic tricks.

Memorable costumes this year included several families dressed thematically including a family of Monopoly pieces, a family of ducks, and a family of skeletons. Doctor Octopus, a fabulously handmade dragon head, some spooky witches, and knights roamed Niwot.

The event is organized each year by Pat Murphy of Niwot Compass Group, sponsored by the Niwot Business Association, and funded in part by the Niwot Local Improvement District.