Main Street in Mount Joy will transform into a Halloween wonderland on Friday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. when the annual Spooktacular returns. The event, hosted by the Mount Joy Area Chamber of Commerce and supported by its members, promises festive fun for all ages.

Businesses and organizations throughout town will showcase their Halloween spirit with games, creative displays and plenty of treats. Tom Kowalchik, owner of Penn Home Mortgage LLC, has wowed attendees with his past displays of singing pumpkins and a towering Frankenstein, and he has something fun planned again for this year.

"Halloween has long been our 'go to' holiday, so a few years back, when I saw a Realtor friend dressing up his pickup to participate in a Trunk or Treat, it gave me an idea," he said. "The following year, our company trailer became the 'trunk,' and with that much space to work with, it gave us room to get a bit more elaborate. My company doesn't do much marketing, so events like the Mount Joy Chamber Spooktacular give us the opportunity to get our name out there and have fun doing it."

Alongside the businesses, St. Mark's United Methodist Church will join the fun by grilling hot dogs and handing out bags of treats in front of the church. "St. Mark's looks forward to Spooktacular each year. We love seeing the streets filled with families enjoying a night out in the community," said Kim Alampi, administrative assistant at the church. "This year we will be setting up carnival games in our front playground for families to experience together. We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new friends as well."

The evening is also special to organizations like Mid Penn Bank. "I love seeing the magic, the adventure and the creativity that pairs with dressing up or putting on a costume," explained Michele Graef Sims, financial center manager for the bank. "I love being a part of an event that brings a tremendous amount of joy to our community."

Several downtown businesses - including Sloan's Pharmacy, Ladybug Crossing, Succulents by ShelNe, The Joy of Sweets and Treats, The Astute Artisan, Dave's Toybox and The Dice Goblin - will feature special offerings during the celebration.

For the first time this year, Main Street will be closed between Marietta Avenue and New Haven/Manheim streets to ensure a safe, family-friendly environment.

"The change is designed to maximize participant safety while keeping traffic moving smoothly around the event," said Rachel Stebbins, Mount Joy Borough economics development, planning and grants coordinator and Chamber board member. "We're grateful to the police department, EMA and public works for their flexibility and creativity in helping make this event a success for everyone."

Michele Emenheiser, executive director of the Chamber, is excited to welcome a crowd to the event.

"Spooktacular is a fun way to bring the community together to connect with Mount Joy businesses and nonprofits," she said. "We hope everyone enjoys the event - and keeps these businesses in mind when it's time to shop, supporting the local businesses that make our town so special."

For more information about Spooktacular, visit https://mountjoychamber.com or follow "Mount Joy Area Chamber of Commerce" on Facebook.