The ghoul from beyond the grave is haunting again.
He’s lurking in the shadows, mixing in among the costumed kids and adults that will be populating downtown Franklin this weekend. People may catch a glimpse or hear his cackle from the alleys or inside the Historic Artcraft Theatre.
But don’t be alarmed. While Indiana horror icon Sammy Terry is back to deliver frights, he’s serving as the master of scare-emonies for Franklin’s Halloween festival.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
The city transforms into a trick-or-treat paradise this weekend for Halloween Town, with opportunities for kids to collect sweets passed out by community members from parked cars and at downtown businesses. People can take part in a virtual 5K, tour some of the most hauntifyingly decorated houses in the area and catch a showing of the scary-funny classic “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy” at the Artcraft. All the while, Sammy Terry will be helping set the tone while interacting with fans.
Safety restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the event to be restructured, and precautions have been put in place as protection against the virus. But organizers are still excited to bring people together in celebration of spooky season.
“We tried to focus on the things we could do easily, but still make it work,” said Holly Johnston, community events and program director for Franklin Parks and Recreation. “Our goal behind everything we do is for people to enjoy themselves and have fun. Now, it’s even more important, because people are climbing the walls and ready to get out. If we can do something safely where they can get out, we want to do it.”
Halloween Town is a relatively new celebration for Franklin, created by the city’s parks department in 2018. Organizers used a $2,500 grant from Festival Country Indiana, the county’s tourism organization, to stitch together a few other longtime Halloween traditions into a single event.
The parks department had organized a Halloween-themed 5K on a late-October Friday, and planned the traditional trunk-or-treat event the following night on Saturday. But organizers decided it made more sense to combine the two on one day, rather than spread it out over two.
Hundreds of people took part during the inaugural year, and plans for a bigger and better festival were in place for 2019. Torrential rain put a damper on some of those plans, but visitors still made their way downtown to take part in Trick-the-Town giveaways at downtown businesses and other activities, including the appearance by Sammy Terry.
Organizers have again had to adapt their plans, this time in the midst of the pandemic. The planned Halloween Hustle 5K has gone virtual; people could sign up to run the 5K by Oct. 14, then complete a 3.1 mile course sometime between today and Oct. 25. Participants received t-shirts, times will be posted and awards will be given to the top three runners in different male and female age groups.
Adjustments were also made to the Trick-the-Town and Trick-Your-Trunk activities. Costumed participants will still go to about 15 different downtown businesses for treats, as well as to cars set up along North Main Street. But trick-or-treaters will still be required to wear a cloth mask, and those passing out candy will have to wear gloves.
“It was scheduled so that everybody was spread out around town a little bit more, so we won’t have the big long lines,” Johnston said.
To add some sizzle to the festival, organizers have created a new contest to generate excitement. People living throughout Franklin signed up for the Halloween Home Decorating Contest, decking out their houses in their most terrifying decor. Participating houses will be judged over the weekend, and prizes given to scariest, silliest and most spirited homes.
And of course, Sammy Terry will be back to spook fans. The character was created by Bob Carter, a producer, director and performer at WTTV Channel 4 in Indianapolis. From 1962 to 1989, Carter would don the creepy makeup and hooded cape, introducing that week’s spooky film on Nightmare Theater. Together with his sidekick, a rubber spider named George, he would mix humor and horror in a way that kids and adults found exhilarating.
Even after Nightmare Theater went off the air, Carter continued to portray Sammy Terry until 2010. His son, Mark Carter, took over, and has done public appearances, festivals and television specials ever since.
“We’re excited to have him back. It’ll be fun to have him down there,” Johnston said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Halloween Town
What: A community celebration featuring Trick the Town, trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, as well as Trick Your Trunk, trunk-or-treating along North Main Street.
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Downtown Franklin
Safety precautions: Trick-or-treaters must wear masks in addition to their costumes
Other activities
Halloween Home Decorating Contest: Homes throughout Franklin will be dressed up for the occasion, with judges determining the best ones. To find a listing of the participating houses, go to facebook.com/FranklinParksAndRec.
"Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy": 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St.
Sammy Terry: The famed TV horror host will be at the Artcraft for the film showings Saturday, as well as posing for photographs and interacting with people around downtown during the day.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
