There was passion aplenty at Centennial Arena last Thursday – along with scooped-out pumpkin guts – as a couple of dozen children gathered to get ready for Halloween by carving up some pumpkins into ghoulish decorations.

Old Town resident Elodie Happer brought her three children — Johnny, 10, Angus, 7, and Bruce, 4. 

She said all her kids love Halloween and that the event was a pleasant surprise for them. Johnny said he was “not really” told about coming in advance.

He described his pumpkin as having an “evil grin with a scar on each eye” and a “unibrow,” which he added “just because he liked that touch.” 

Navpreet Kaur attended with three of her four children — Safaleen S., 12, Sangram S., 9, and Hunarjog S. Johal, 5.

While Kaur, whose family lives in Glendale, said all three children were excited to be there, she said Hunarjog, who worked on a Spider-Man-themed pumpkin, was the most excited.

Kaur said she brought her kids to help them feel more connected to the community and meet new people. 

“It’s very meaningful,” she said. “It helps them feel connected to the community.”

Sunny Yang, who moved from China six years ago next month, travelled from Thorold with her children Ally and Alan Wong.

When asked about how her kids would avoid a sugar crash, Yang said she was a little bit more indulgent with how much candy her kids ate because it was once a year. It was her husband who was going to monitor their candy intake.

But for Yang’s family, Halloween is a major event that her kids love more than anything else.

“It’s higher than Christmas,” she said.

Emily Kujbida, the town’s recreation specialist, said Epp Family Farms donated the pumpkins to the town. With 25 children in total taking part, she described the evening as a success.

By the end, the finished creations — featuring ghosts, wicked smiles and other classic designs — were neatly arranged on the floor, ready to be taken home and line the streets of NOTL with their sinister smiles.

daniel@niagaranow.com