Middletown’s Hocus Pocus Family Fun Day promises fun for all
Visit Middletown on Oct. 16 for a spooky good time! The sixth annual Hocus Pocus Family Fun Day will be held downtown where there is fun for all ages.
The event is based on the film Hocus Pocus. Kenzie Bruns, Downtown Middletown’s social media coordinator, says one of the highlights is appearances from the Sanderson Sisters.
“They give performances on stage and they walk around, take pictures with the kids,” Bruns says.
In addition to the Sanderson Sisters, there are plenty of activities to enjoy. There will be a kid zone with bounce houses, pee wee car racing and a carnival ride. There also will be food vendors and lots of Halloween candy. Bruns says the organizers of the event ask the vendors to try to have some Halloween and spooky-themed food as much as possible.
For entertainment, there is a magic show, singing performances, performances by dance troupes, a pumpkin carver and a dog costume contest.
Jeff Payne, Downtown Middletown’s executive director, says in addition to the dogs being dressed up, people come in full Halloween gear.
“It’s really something where people can enjoy participating that way,” Payne says.
Payne says the idea to have a specifically Hocus Pocus-themed event came from trying to engage more people.
“Our program, when we do events, we try to have them be themed,” says Payne. “And what that does is it allows for greater participation because then people can kind of focus in. One of our volunteers, who is now deceased, came up with the [Hocus Pocus] idea. [A] Hocus Pocus [theme] was very unique. It was just a great idea to build off. Using that theme seemed to just develop and become more successful each year.”
Payne adds that the theme can be more immersing rather than having an event with a general Halloween theme.
“You have something that more people can tie in and relate to,” Payne says. “Plus, showing the movie, which is a classic, is something that really kind of all ages can get into—mom and dad all the way down to the little ones.”
Each year the day ends with a showing of Hocus Pocus at the Sorg Opera House.
“There’s really not a quiet moment until we try to send everyone into Sorg for the movie,” Payne adds.
Bruns says she thinks people like the Hocus Pocus Family Fun Day because it involves the whole community.
“It’s a family-friendly event and it’s a community event,” Bruns says. “It’s located in the downtown, so a lot of people can walk to the event and bring the whole family. Everybody can come and there’s something for everybody to do.”
She adds that people who have not been to the event before should come because it supports Downtown Middletown.
“Again, it’s a free community event,” says Bruns. “If you want to support downtown local businesses, it supports our downtown. It’s a fun, safe community event to bring your whole family to.”
