by Lisa Feldman

A good time was had by all on Saturday, October 29^, 2016, at the Ewing Community Fall Festival of Fun with the popular annual ‘Trunk-or-Treat’, the Ewing Green Team’s award-winning 3^rd Annual Scarecrow Contest, pumpkin painting, build-your-own scarecrow crafting with refreshments and music.

The sun was shining, and it was unusually warm for a late October day but it didn’t stop the spirits of the hundreds of trick-or-treaters from getting in the festive mood. There were over 250 kids dressed up and ready for the collection of dentist-pleasing goodies. Once through the candy-collecting parade, it was on to the pumpkin-painting, hot-chocolate and apple cider and cookies and do-nuts.

With music playing and goodies in hand, it was time to check-out the Scarecrows being judged for cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25.00. These had to be made of 80% recycled materials in order to qualify. While the judging was going on, people could also make their own scarecrows with lots of recycled clothes and fun accessories on hand with the obligatory hay for stuffing which could also win a cash prize of $25.00.

An additional treat was the Ewing Township having a fire truck on hand for kids of all ages to check out with souvenir fire hats being given out.

Judging for the Scarecrow Contest was graciously done by local officials and artists. They were: Councilman Kevin Baxter, Members of the Ewing Arts Commission – Jennifer Winn and Lauren Weber, Artist and Local Art Teacher/Entrepreneur Bill Farruto of Art Has No Boundaries and local art student Clare Maloney.

Emceeing the event was Ewing’s Town Councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney who also participated in the ‘Trunk-or-Treat’, aka Mrs. Minion and her Minion dog.

• 1st prize went to: Vicki Laurie and her daughter and their creation ‘Mr. Bones’
• 2^nd Prize went to: Girl Scout Troop#70137, ‘Frankenscout’
• 3^rd Prize went to: Samantha Dupee for ‘Scarlette, the Zombie Eradicator.’

The hours were from 2:00-4:00 but at 4:30 lots of people were still hanging out – a sign of a successful event!  For more photos from the day go to the EGT Facebook page.

All the Green Teams of Mercer County work together to host; March 18^th 2017 Mercer Green Fest (formerly the Living Local Expo).