Children dressed as witches, skeletons, princesses and superheroes filled the Middlebury Town Green on Sunday, Oct. 26, before marching through downtown Middlebury for their annual Spooktacular.
Nearly every shop along Main Street greeted parade-goers with treats, handing out candy, stickers and even bookmarks. Many owners dressed up, from classic witches to elaborate costumes including a full “Wizard of Oz” cast. One volunteer went as far to paint her face a sparkling gray in full commitment to the Tin Man costume.
Nanci Dunn, the owner of boutique gift shop Sweet Cecily, has led the band of children on their parade route for over a decade. Described as the resident witch, Dunn wears a witch outfit and holds a black, sparkly wand every year.
“My hair just keeps getting grayer and grayer, and I’ve had kids say to me, ‘Is that your real hair?!’ and I tell them it is,” Dunn said.
As the town’s primary Halloween celebration, Spooktacular holds a special place in Dunn’s heart. For her, watching the kids in Middlebury grow up over the years has been a source of great joy.
“I’ve been doing this so long, and there are some kids that I recognize and they recognize me,” Dunn said.
The Spooktacular is organized by Kelly Flynn and Kathryn Torres, the co-directors of the Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP).
“Together with a wonderful network of volunteers, local businesses (SHAWS are our candy sponsor, so huge gratitude and shout out to them!) Parks & Rec, the police and fire departments and our town team, we coordinate many of Middlebury’s community events throughout the year — including Spooktacular,” Flynn and Torres said in a joint email to the Campus.
The Middlebury Police and Fire Departments could both be seen directing traffic for the parade, keeping the children and their families safe. Members of 92.1 WVTK, Addison County’s local radio station, broadcasted live from the green to bring the community together.
92.1 WVTK’s Local Sales Manager Spencer Lieberman was dressed as Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters.
“[It’s so nice] being able to celebrate together, having a place where everyone can come together and have fun,” Lieberman said. “We’ve got some good music going, and there are kids getting dressed up!”
The sentiment was echoed by Flynn and Torres.
“In a world that often moves too fast, Spooktacular gives everyone a reason to pause and simply enjoy being part of the community — outdoors, in costume, surrounded by smiles,” Flynn and Torres shared in their statement. “It’s a reminder that small-town traditions matter and that the joy of childhood and imagination is something we can all share.”
Every year, Flynn and Torres take into consideration comments and feedback from the town. In order to improve the event for all families, they worked this year to make the event even more child-friendly.
“One consistent note we’ve heard is around keeping the parade moving smoothly, which we’ve worked on by setting clear guidelines for candy distribution and timing,” Flynn and Torres wrote. “We’ve also heard from parents who appreciate having rest and gathering spaces nearby, so we’ve focused more on making it welcoming and easy to navigate for families with young children.”
With all the decorated shop windows, festive Halloween touches and the bounty of treats, the children of Middlebury experienced the full breadth of autumn festivity.
“[The Spooktacular] recalls those old-fashioned small-town Halloweens where everyone knows everyone, and safety, joy, and creativity take center stage,” Flynn and Torres wrote.
