Marysville's Scarysville expanding

In spite of some apprehension about public safety, Marysville officials approved a request Tuesday for expanding downtown Halloween activities this year.

Organizers estimate that the first official Scarysville Halloween Festival last year attracted nearly 2,000 revelers — most of them children and their parents.

Because this year's night of haunting will fall on a Saturday, downtown business owners hope to take advantage of an anticipated increase in participation and attendance.

"We had so many parents with their kids and dogs all dressed up (last year)," said Shannon Greathouse-Jacobsen, the city's Special Events coordinator.

Cakes by Request at First and C streets has hosted a popular "haunted bakery" for three years, which Greathouse-Jacobsen credits with helping generate momentum for the new event.

"It's really blossomed," she said. "Last year, we had lots and lots of small children."

Members of the city's business improvement district on Tuesday told council members they plan to add an hour to the event so that it runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Oct. 31 event will feature trick-or-treating with downtown merchants, tractor-drawn hay rides, food vendors and two haunted houses.

Organizers also plan to expand street closures downtown to make room for pedestrians.

Marysville police and councilman Mike Selvidge expressed concern that the move would require costly additional barriers and manpower from the Police Department to provide security.

"The whole city would be kind of stretched (thin)," Selvidge said.

Last year's event was manned by four law enforcement officers. Expanding the area used for the festival would require more personnel, said Sgt. Chris Sachs.

A compromise on the scope of expansion brought blessings from the naysayers.

This year's event will close D Street to vehicle traffic between First and Seventh streets, as well as on two side streets leading to the site.

The festival is expected to cost the city about $6,000 in personnel costs and fees waived by the City Council.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4712 or at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com