Little girls sit on the warm road and enjoy their candy. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – For the last few years, the Port Clinton Candy Company hosted a pumpkin party at Lakeview Park, but this year, they decided to collaborate with Main Street Port Clinton and throw a Great Pumpkin Party downtown on Oct. 25. The event was a pumpkin-smashing success that attracted hundreds of people to The District for trick-or-treating, games, and food.

Three-year-old River Chapman found a way to make bubblegum adorable. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We typically average 300 to 400 people, but looking at this crowd, I think we’ll get way more this year,” said Main Street Port Clinton President, Nicole Kochensparger.

Local businesses distributed candy, and kids could paint pumpkins, play games, and have their faces painted. Vendors and food trucks were set up downtown. Kochensparger and Port Clinton Candy Company owners, Lisa and Joe Kuzma, found a way to make the party a truly community-wide event by inviting businesses located outside of downtown to bring their vehicles to The District, where they could distribute candy trunk-or-treat style.

Ryder Rogers, 9, is surprised when the “army figure,” which looked very much like a statute, reached out to offer him candy. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We had over 30 participating downtown businesses, and ten businesses participated in trunk or treat,” Kochensparger said.

The Kuzmas were thrilled with the turnout.

“I think it was great to combine with the chamber. Who doesn’t like pumpkins with their candy?” Lisa said.

Ryder Rogers, 9, said his favorite Halloween candy is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. (Photos by Sheri Trusty)

The food trucks included a Kona Ice vendor and a truck selling gluten-free fair food.

“I find food trucks that don’t sell the same food as the downtown restaurants,” Joe said. “We don’t want to impede on their business.”

The Kuzmas brighted up downtown by organizing an Adopt-a-Lamppost program. Local businesses “adopted” a lamppost for $75, and it was adorned with cornstalks, fall décor, and a nameplate with the business name. The $75 cost includes Christmas decorations that will be added after Thanksgiving.

Port Clinton Firefighters passed out candy at The Great Pumpkin Party on Oct. 25. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We wanted it to be more festive-looking,” Joe said.

Joe is already planning this year’s New Year’s Eve Walleye Drop. Joe serves as the president of the Wylie Walleye Foundation, which hosts the annual Walleye Drop, and he is bringing big changes to the event. This year, it will be moved up the street to The District.

Wylie Walleye was a giant photo prop at the Great Pumpkin Party. In a few months, he’ll fall from the sky at the Walleye Drop. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We’re going to block off the road. It will be less of a wind tunnel here, and we’ll have more room,” he said. “This is the Walleye Drop’s 30th anniversary, so our theme is ‘Party Like its 1995.’”

The Walleye Drop is a couple of cold months away, but on Saturday, the day was all about the crisp autumn season and Lisa’s favorite holiday, Halloween.

“It could be Halloween and pumpkins every day of the year,” she said.