It was a different kind of Halloween celebration when hundreds of people showed up at Three Springs on Saturday to celebrate the spooky holiday in an abundance of autumn sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
The seventh annual Fall Festival, presented by Three Springs Durango, included door-to-door trick-or-treating, a “Monster Mash” fun run for kids, live music, mask-making and a 1.5-mile “Zombie Challenge” run complete with obstacles and zombies lurking on the course.
On Saturday night, a haunted house for older kids and adults was to be hosted by the Piedra Learning Center.
Sherry O’Toole, project manager for Three Springs Durango, said it’s all about getting the families out for a good time.
“It’s just a fun, free day in a safe environment,” O’Toole said from behind her yellow costume with goggles and white makeup. “All of our neighbors just love having the entire community out here. It provides a fun, safe place for everybody.”
Families, friends and even some pets were dressed in creative costumes. Zombies were a popular theme, but a toddler-aged Fred Flintstone also wobbled by the starting line. Athletes of all ages stretched and warmed up in preparation for the zombie-infested run.
Each runner was given two flags that zombies would try to snag during the event. Those who retained their flags received prizes. An after-party was set to follow the event.
The Zombie Challenge, in its second year, is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado. The local arm of the 100-year-old national organization has been active for nearly 30 years here and provides one-on-one mentoring to help young people faced with adversity to reach their potential, said Executive Director Tracy Cornutt.
“We provide adult volunteers to be mentors, friends and positive role models for kids who are really facing some challenges in their lives,” Cornutt said. “It’s for kids who need some extra support.”
Tom Geyer, president of the board, said the organization offers kids a chance they might not otherwise have.
“Not every kid gets a wonderful opportunity at life,” he said. “With this mentoring, they can get that opportunity to really grow as an individual.”
According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado website, research shows that kids involved with the program develop more confidence in their classroom performance, get along better with their families and are less likely to use drugs or alcohol.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
