Connect with us

Community Events

‘Jack O’Lantern Jubilee’ Launches Trio of Halloween-Themed Community Events the Week Before Trick or Treat Night

Published

on

We continue our run-up to this coming Friday evening’s costumed celebration of treats for creatively spooked-up alter egos at your door with the fifth annual “Jack O’ Lantern Jubilee” co-hosted Thursday evening, October 23rd, by the Warren County Social Services and Parks & Recreation Departments. The site was the old middle school track and football field on 15th Street, now part of the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex.

A perspective on a portion of the estimated crowd of 1200 visiting 50 vendor booths of various treats. Below, we wonder who was clever enough to dress their vehicle up like a Sheriff’s Office unit, or do you think that’s a real Sheriff’s Office unit deployed to see that the Halloween ghouls don’t get out of control? Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

The event was scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as the sun set and darkness began to fall upon the proceedings. Following “Jack O’Lantern Jubilee 2025,” we got this background from Social Services Department staffer Michelle Smeltzer:

“This was a free event for families to enjoy Halloween fun within their community. Attendance at the event continues to grow every year, as we hosted over 1200 visitors and 50 vendors this year. This annual community tradition is a safe, fun, and free event for the whole family to enjoy. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, which will be held on October 22, 2026.”

And on that family, and ghoul-friendly note, we will explore our photo documentation of this year’s event. And a warning, it is pretty SCARY:

Co-host Parks & Rec Department booth – do the goblins smell treats there? Below, this pirate picks up a skeletal pet to help get him thru to Halloween.

We caught a T-Rex checking with this booth’s host skeleton to see if it needed any more pets de-fleshed. Below, T-Rex was largely ignored when asking if any visitors brought their pets with them. But further below this wheeled patron tells Mr. Rex to stay away from his pet, even if it was a toy one.

We don’t know exactly how this elephant costume worked, it is a costume, isn’t it?

This patron was feeling a little boxed in.

Vendor treats around the 15th Street track were in high demand.

It was all smiles, including a 2 for 1 smile at left-center, before the sun was entirely set. Who needs the sun up this quartet below seemed to be asking.

Uh oh, it appears an Alien Abduction is taking place here. Further below, Spider Man appears a little peeved that the Alien dared do that abduction right in front of him.

There was some game action, including enclosed bouncing around, on the field area. If I put my mask down will they let me join in those field games this patron below seemed to be wondering.

 

 

Front Royal, VA
61°
Clear
5:47 am8:34 pm EDT
Feels like: 61°F
Wind: 1mph W
Humidity: 81%
Pressure: 30.08"Hg
UV index: 0
SatSunMon
90°F / 70°F
90°F / 64°F
86°F / 59°F
Obituaries8 hours ago

Edward “Henley” Brown Sr. (1940 – 2026)

Obituaries8 hours ago

Katherine Ann Hafferman (1954 – 2026)

Local Government8 hours ago

County Supervisors Confronted by Multiple Departmental Budget Requests Among Other Topics as FY-27 Approaches

Local Government9 hours ago

Warren County School Board Moves Forward with RFP for After-School Care Providers

State News11 hours ago

Virginia Measles Cases Surge Past 70, Concentrated in Central Virginia 

National News14 hours ago

Congress Nears Major Bipartisan Housing Bill with Support from Virginia Lawmakers

Local Government15 hours ago

Warren County School Board Weighs Scent Awareness Policy

State News16 hours ago

Virginia Schools Push for Local Tax Option as Aging Buildings Strain Rural Divisions

State News16 hours ago

Virginia Farmers Talk Meat Production, Fertilizer Costs with USDA Officials

Interesting Things to Know17 hours ago

The Ants Are Back — and They Mean Business

Interesting Things to Know18 hours ago

U-Pick Outings Offer Fresh Fruit, Fresh Air and Local Support

Automotive18 hours ago

Disc Brakes and Drum Brakes Use Friction in Different Ways

Legislative Update1 day ago

Cline Highlights Memorial Day Ceremony, Lyme Disease Awareness, Cybersecurity, and Local Manufacturing Visits

Local News1 day ago

Local Students Earn Degrees from James Madison University

Local News1 day ago

Michael Sean Williams Takes on the Pastoral Role at First Baptist Church Without the ‘Interim’ Attached

State News1 day ago

Virginia Officials Urge Hurricane Preparedness as 2026 Storm Season Begins

Local Government1 day ago

Warren County Announces Leadership Appointments in Economic Development and Planning

Local News1 day ago

The Request for Money from Nigeria: At Fire Department Luncheon, Senior Citizens Learn to Recognize AI Fakes

Community Events1 day ago

Don’t Miss This! – Say Cheese! Warren Coalition Serves Up Second Annual Fundraiser

Local Government2 days ago

Is A Parking Garage in Front Royal’s Future? Town Council Discusses Prospective Parking Study

Historically Speaking2 days ago

Constitution 101: Naturalization Clause

State News2 days ago

Aging At Home Drives Growing Demand for Virginia Caregivers 

State News2 days ago

Another Year, Another Virginia Retail Cannabis Market Veto Leaves Businesses, the Public with Few Options

Health2 days ago

A Cure for Sickle Cell? Science Says Yes. Your Wallet May Disagree.

Health2 days ago

What You Need to Know About Hives