JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Marion County was recently the host of a range of celebrations and festivities during Halloween week, a time which residents all around gathered in celebration of the spookiest time of year.
Jasper’s annual Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree helped kickstart the week with a large range of vendors and activities for residents and visitors to experience, all the while dressed up as their favorite characters from the entertainment media.
The Jamboree was established in 2016 and serves as a public event in honor of former alderman and civic leader of Jasper, Joshua J. Jennings. Jennings passed away in 2019 and was a respected figure within the community. In 2016, he helped establish the Jamboree alongside the Lions Club to provide a new community event for residents to enjoy. After his passing, the town government and Lions Club decided to rename it the Joshua J. Jennings Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree in honor of his work and service to the community.
“Every year we strive to make Josh’s dream come true. We hope he would be so proud of how much this event continues to grow,” posted the Town of Jasper on Facebook.
Alongside the Jamboree, Powells Crossroads hosted its 4th Annual Trunk-or-Treat in celebration of Halloween. The community’s downtown was filled with residents coming together to celebrate the season with candy and fun all throughout the anticipated event. Chief Kenneth Seagraves of the Powells Crossroads Police Department helped establish a haunted house for visitors of all ages to experience, adding to the list of activities the event presented.
South Pittsburg was also in no shortage of activities during the Halloween season. Marion County’s American Legion Post 62 recently held its first ever Costume Ball, where members and visitors were invited for an evening of treats and games ranging from hot dogs and a costume contest, to fortune telling hosted by Nona Kilgore of Blue Violet Creations. South Pittsburg’s local magician Jerry White from the Magic Box Theatre also attended the event to perform magic tricks for added entertainment during the costume ball.
In addition to the costume ball, South Pittsburg’s annual Trunk-or-Treat was hosted on historic Cedar Avenue. There, community members, business owners, and electives for Marion County sheriff all gathered to hand out candy to families lined up within a blocked off section of the street. Several large-scale inflatable playsets were also on-site during the Trunk-or-Treat, providing added fun for participating children. Cedar Avenue was additionally the host of the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society’s Haunted Walking Ghost Tours, an event that allowed guests to witness and learn of the community’s haunted past throughout its historic streets.
Other events held throughout the county include Chattanooga State’s annual Spooktacular, as well as the Orena Humphreys Public Library’s Halloween at the Library event. All events and activities ultimately culminated in a week bursting with fun-filled celebration for Halloween, a time of frights and delights for all within Marion County.
Photos of Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree by the Town of Jasper. Photos of Powells Crossroads Trunk-or-Treat provided by Alderman Larry Higdon of the town’s Board of Mayor & Aldermen