Bungendore’s resident Christmas shop Santa’s Secret is preparing to host the town’s second annual Halloween event and, with the Addams Family in the line-up, it’s set to be spookier than ever.

Local businesswoman and owner of Santa’s Secret, Kim Barlow isn’t alone in her mission to bring the town together and is joined by 16 Bungendore businesses that will keep their doors open late to allow participants to trick-or-treat their way through the town centre.

“We’re creating a map of all the businesses that will be open for trick-or-treating. All the way from the Malbon down the far end of Malbon Street, up to Village Antiques, Toys of Yesteryear, the Royal, so it’s the whole town centre that will be involved,” Kim tells Region.

Last year’s special guest for the community Halloween celebration was Beetlejuice. Photo: Santa’s Secret.

With approval to slow the traffic down through the town centre, Kim encourages people of all ages to come and enjoy the family-friendly event that will include a costume competition with eight categories to compete in.

“We’ve themed the costume categories around the businesses in town. We’ll have a best dressed pets category, best dressed babies, and two age brackets for children to compete in as well as best dressed families,” Kim explains.

“Last year we didn’t have any men compete, so I’m telling all the men to pop on a Halloween shirt, and they might just win a prize.”

Although the trick-or-treating will roam through the town centre, the hub for the event is the Village Square where the Lions Club will be running a sausage sizzle and Mellabella Gelato will be scooping her local artisan gelato.

“We’re keeping the business involvement local to support Bungendore businesses,” shares Kim.

Kim and Sue have stocked the shop with Halloween decorations so the town can get in the spirit. Photo: Tenele Conway.

Kim is most excited for her special guests, Gomez and Morticia Addams, who will be overseeing proceedings and available for photo opportunities from a 1934 Packard, an iconic American automobile similar to that owned by the Addams Family in the classic TV series.

Trick-or-treating has been popular in Bungendore in the newer suburb of Elmslea for more than a decade, and with the town encouraged to move things into the heart of the village, Kim has heard more than her fair share of complaints about the Americanisation of Australian celebrations.

“America may be responsible for how Halloween looks now, but Halloween has Celtic origins that are thousands of years old, and it’s very much a global celebration,” explains Kim.

In preparation for the community celebration, Kim has been decking out her Christmas store with all things Halloween. Her gorgeous vintage glass-fronted cabinet is overflowing with Halloween-themed items that people can purchase to join in the fun, and she’s received a shipment of wonderfully detailed Halloween miniatures from Lemax, a leader in the Christmas and Halloween streetscapes.

Halloween in Bungendore will be taking place in the Village Square on Saturday 31 October from 3 to 6 pm. For details on the event and the costume competition, head to the Santa’s Secret Facebook page, where Kim will be posting regular updates.

Original Article published by Tenele Conway on About Regional.