Fairground frights

On the Alaska State Fairgrounds Friday night, angels mixed with ghouls, Pooh Bear mingled with Cinderella and a slice of pizza could be seen walking away eating bundles of candy.

Halloween Hollow took place on the fairgrounds last Friday night, giving kids and parents a safe place to play games and trick-or-treat. It also gave the Special Santa program a chance to collect toys -- one unwrapped toy was the cost of admission -- and get ready for the holidays.

This was the second year for the event, which was held in three buildings on the fairgrounds.

In addition to a haunted house, there were plenty of games for children. Local businesses and organizations set up the booths and handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters, which numbered well over a thousand throughout the course of the evening.

Last year, due in large part to the success of Halloween Hollow, the Special Santa program was able to reach 2,200 children. This year, with the Halloween event growing, Special Santa coordinator Mari Jo Parks said she hopes to be able to reach 3,000 children.

While the ghouls and ghosts went home Friday night, the work is just beginning for Parks and her "elves." This year, the program will operate out of the old Juvenile Assessment Center on Bogard Road. Toys will be collected from around the Valley, and will be distributed from the new location.

For more information on how to volunteer to help the Special Santa program, interested people can call Parks at 373-3411.