Halloween off to early start at AK Riverside RV Park with first Spooktacular Halloween event

Despite the rain and chilly temperatures, or maybe because of the spooky setting it set little ghouls and goblins gathered at the Alaska Riverside RV Park in Houston for the first Spooktacular Food Fest and Trick or Treat Town.

“I think this is something really exciting,” said Maddison Simpson, who coordinated the event for the RV Park. “It’s early enough that the kids don’t have to put on snowsuits and their gear, and could really show off their costumes.”

The event marked the first community event the new owners of the Alaska Riverside RV Park have hosted after purchasing the park two years ago.

“We’ve been wanting to do something with our (RV) park, and it’s been hard with the roads, the wind, and the rainy weather to pull something together, but people came out anyway.” Simpson said of the pre-Halloween event.

Food trucks from around the Mat-Su were on hand, along with KHITZ 107.1, who provided an eerie soundtrack for the families that turned out for the event, some coming all the way from Palmer.

“We heard it on the radio and thought it would be fun to come try the food trucks and it would be something fun for the kids,” said Mallory Laury, who brought her family.

“It (Halloween) can be exhausting for parents. This way the kids can run around, getting candy, and there are the food trucks for the families, and activities for the kids.” There was a coloring station for the kids where they could draw and color their own bags, Cornhole and other outdoor games, and a costume parade.

“It was to have the whole community come together. That’s one of the things we love about our community here. Everyone is willing to help to make a wonderful event, people are happy and feeling wonderful,”

Simpson is hoping to make this an annual event and was encouraged by the turnout. She hopes that next year, it will be a little warmer and a little dryer. Simpson sent out a special thank you to Big Lake Lions for their help and Gorilla Fireworks, who put on a fireworks show that night.

“There was also an anonymous donor who gave money and a Halloween Cup for the Best Decorated Food Truck,” which went to Duke’s Sweets and Treats.

Each of the food trucks, in addition to donating for a prize for the adult costume contest, also had a specialty menu item to mark the Halloween event, so superheroes and ghosts could nosh on Mummy Dogs from Alaska’s Best Gourmet Dogs, Pumpkin Biscuits from Bitchin’ Biscuits, Patriot BBQ had Dead Man’s Toes, or Freaky Frog Legs atop Creepy Crinks at Nonkie Be’s. For desert, Vampires and Zombie Sundaes courtesy of Duke’s Sweets, and it could all be washed down with a Blood Shot from Just Brew It.

“With how little planning we had, it turned out so well and I am so grateful. The community really came together.”