When Ashfield resident Delta Carney learned that not only was the town’s annual Rag Shag Parade canceled, trick-or-treating was, too, she wanted to find a way to bring a little excitement to her town.
“Everybody has lost out on fun things this year,” she said. “So I said, ‘We’ve got to find a way (to celebrate).’”
That was when she had the idea for a pumpkin lighting outside Town Hall. Residents could drive up to the building’s front entrance and drop off a carved pumpkin in exchange for a bag of treats. Volunteers then placed each pumpkin on the front steps and lit them with a tea light.
The pumpkins, though largely purchased by the Lions Club — of which Carney is a member — were also donated by members of the community. Those who didn’t donate pumpkins or tea lights donated money to help the Lions Club recuperate some of the funds.
By 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the front steps of Town Hall were lit with roughly 100 pumpkins.
“Everybody was so glad to be able to do something fun,” Carney said. “Even though I was the instigator, it couldn’t have happened without people in the town — this happened because of the community.”
Elsewhere in the county, in Montague, a group of witches, a dragon and a Ghostbuster gathered around a bonfire at the East Mineral Road Cemetery.
“We didn’t know what the Halloween rules would be, so we wanted to do something that would be fun and safe,” said Hannah Brookman, a resident of Millers Falls.
The event, which offered hot cider, s’mores, pumpkin carving and a live performance, was organized by the Montague Cemetery Commission in collaboration with Lovelights, a local theater company.
According to Cemetery Commission member Judith Lorei, the commission has been working to become more active in the community — hoping to encourage people to visit any of the seven town-owned, historic cemeteries.
“We wanted to host an event, so this just seemed like a good time to do that,” Lorei said. “While we want to obviously make sure we’re respecting the cemetery, they’re also beautiful places to be.”
And traditionally speaking, cemeteries — especially ones in urban areas — are places for picnics and small gatherings, she explained.
So when commissioner Annie Levine met Brookman, who had lamented to her that many of the theater company’s fall performances had been canceled as a result of the pandemic, it seemed like a natural fit to involve the company somehow in an event at the cemetery.
Having spent the past few months running the local farmers market, Levine knew a safe, outdoor event was possible.
Brookman said when Levine approached her about putting on a performance in the cemetery, she knew she wanted there to be more involved.
“We also pulled together this bonfire and jack-o-lantern carving session,” Brookman said. “This just seemed like a good opportunity for people who were looking for something (to do).”
One of the families at the event Saturday was the Lloyds, who drove from Easthampton to see the theater group’s performance.
“This was another opportunity to wear a costume,” said Jenna Lloyd.
Her son, dressed as a Ghostbuster, said he still planned to trick-or-treat in his neighborhood later, but was excited to see the show and to be out on Halloween.
“You have to be safe,” said Jagger, 12.
Levine and Lorei both noted that the commission has upcoming projects planned to address the stone wall at the East Mineral Road Cemetery, which has recently begun to fall, and the condition of headstones at the various town-owned cemeteries.
“We’re the Cemetery Commission, so we’re here to have some fun,” Levine said. “But also to show off one of the town’s beautiful places.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne