Matt Stopa, director of Manheim Township Recreation and Park Planning Department, recalls the first year that the Manheim Township Halloween Carnival was held. "At first, only a couple hundred (people attended)," he noted. "Last year, we had about 1,200 (people)."

The sixth annual Halloween Carnival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Carriage House at Stauffer Park, 1241 Lititz Pike, Lancaster. Activities will include carnival games, photo opportunities, a costume parade, and the distribution of more than 150 pounds of candy.

According to Stopa, this year's carnival will feature more games, including a pirate hook ring toss, a prize wheel, pumpkin Plinko, glow bowling, a bottle ring toss, and a duck game where the player has to match two numbers. New this year will be a goblet game that will involve getting a ball into a winning hole.

A Trunk or Treat portion of the event will be hosted by the Manheim Township Police, and other township departments will take part, including the fire and public works departments. Stopa noted that the Recreation and Park Planning trunk theme will be the "Wizard of Oz." Entertainers will include two balloon animal twisters and a stilt walker who juggles.

According to Michael Kurland, youth sports and activities manager, those who are brave may want to check out the haunted hallway. "We will have five stalls that will have various themes," said Kurland, who listed spiders, pirates, a graveyard scene, and a witch's lair among the frightening themes down the hall.

Kurland also discussed a costume parade that will begin at the tennis courts at 1:30 p.m. Prizes in the form of gift cards will be awarded to contestants in three age groups, along with a prize for a costumed group.

For those who do not fear monsters, Harry Norton, adult and family program manager, described a type of scavenger hunt to be held on the grounds. "We have five life-size movie monsters that we will place throughout the park," he said, noting that with a pet cemetery and gardens on the property, places to hide monsters are plentiful.

There is no admission to attend the Trunk or Treat and costume parade portion of the event, but games and other activities require tickets. Ten tickets may be purchased for a nominal fee at https://bit.ly/MT-HC-Tix. Tickets may also be purchased at the event. Readers who would like more information about the carnival may visit https://bit.ly/MT-Halloween-Carnival-2022.