Haunting in the District turns Columbia into 'Ghoul Town': 'It's just so much fun'

Mule Town became "Ghoul Town" once again in celebration of the Halloween holiday this week, drawing thousands to the downtown square for this year's Haunting in The District.

The annual downtown gathering, presented by the Maury County Convention and Visitors Bureau, provides an opportunity for businesses, city and county leaders, nonprofits and more to come together, hand out candy and create a family-friendly atmosphere for all ages.

Most importantly, Haunting in The District provides a safe space for citizens to dress up in their spookiest costume for a night of trick-or-treating within the heart of the community.

"This is always a great night in downtown Columbia, and we so appreciate the Visitors Bureau for spearheading this, as well as Columbia Main Street," Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said. "It's also a safe, contained environment, which is what I love about it. The streets are closed, people can come out, there's all kinds of costumes and so many families around. It's just so much fun to be a part of."

Molder added that part of the fun is also seeing families dress up together, with many parents passing down the Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating much like when they were younger. It's also a great opportunity to interact with citizens in ways city leaders and officials might not get to normally.

"That's the best part, getting to see your community and meet the citizens who are so excited about what's going on in the city of Columbia, and really getting to interact with folks. I can really only count on one hand the number of times I get to interact with this many people all at once," Molder said.

In addition to loading up on candy and other sweet treats, Haunting in The District provides many more fun activities, such as a haunted house, petting zoo, as well as the opportunity to interact with local first responders.

Hanna Miller, Columbia Fire & Rescue's Community Risk Reduction Officer, said one of the great joys of Haunting in The District is interacting with younger people, although the fun is shared among all ages and demographics.

"It is a great place to meet new people, to run into old friends and see how their kids are doing. The costumes each year are always more and more incredible," Miller said. "It's an endless source of entertainment for children, for their parents and is just a fantastic event I hope continues to grow."

Haunting in The District also provides educational opportunities for citizens, allowing them to interact face-to-face with local first responders and gain a deeper understanding for the services they provide in keeping citizens safe on a daily basis.

"That's a huge benefit from Haunting in The District, and other community events like this, that it's important for these agencies to get out in the communities they serve and interact with them in a positive way," Miller said. "It's so that in the event of an emergency, you know the faces who are going to come and help you, and you know exactly what services they provide the public."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Haunting in the District turns Columbia into 'Ghoul Town' on Halloween