Spooky season not for everyone
According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween retail spending in 2018 was at the $9 billion mark. Billion with a B. About 90 percent of Americans spend about $2.6 billion on candy. Almost 75 percent will purchase Halloween decor, spending $2.7 billion. Slightly less than 70 percent of Americans will spend $3.2 billion on costuming themselves, children or pets.
I hate to disappoint the NRF but I don’t contribute much toward that number. I admit I’m not a fan of Halloween. I’m as fun-loving as the next gal and enjoy the little kids in their superhero and princess costumes who come to the door for treats. But I’ve never been comfortable around grown-ups in masks and gory make-up. I’m just not a fan of being frightened. I don’t watch scary movies or read scary books.
There was no childhood trauma with scary clowns and the like. I have friends who love all things Halloween, their favorite holiday of the year and I simply don’t get it. But then again, perhaps they don’t get my love of dressing in red, white and blue every Fourth of July.
My husband volunteered for more than two decades with the Post Falls Lions Club to put on the famous Haunted House. I spent many hours volunteering in the concession stand but never once went through the haunted house. Too scary for me.
This year with the demise of the Lions tradition here in Post Falls I’m seeing a lot more of my husband this month and we’ll both be home to answer the door on Halloween. Maybe we’ll even carve a pumpkin!
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Things to Do Highlights:
Tonight both the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls Boys and Girls Club locations will host their annual chili feed from 6-8 p.m.
Thursday is CASA Uncorked at the Hagadone Events Center, 5-9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday get a jump on the holidays with the 3Cs annual Fall Craft Faire at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Saturday there’s something for everyone starting with the Fall Fest and Apple Palooza in downtown Coeur d’Alene with the Harvest Farmer’s Market (last one of the season!), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The eighth annual Trail of Terror Run, beginning at noon on Saturday, starts at Cedar Mountain Farm B & B, 25249 N. Hatch Road in Athol. It includes half marathon, 10K and 5K races. Packet pick up is Friday, 2-6 p.m., at Fleet Feet CDA.
Next Tuesday the Kootenai County Young Professionals host the Volunteer Fair which gives the public an opportunity to meet representatives from many of our local non-profits and discover opportunities to make a difference. It’s from 4-7 p.m. at the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene.
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Happy birthday today to our youngest grandson Connor who turns 16, sharing a birthday with Sholeh Patrick, Greg Helbling, Nathan Tull, Holly Hansen, Christopher Adamson, Tim Snyder and Margaret VanLeuven. Tomorrow Rocky Banks, Jeff Turk, Melissa Hjeltness, Adam Slobodow, Randy Millsap and David Ingalls take another trip around the sun.
On Friday Jesse James Howe, Jack Price, Mary Foeller, Kyley Greer, Kathryn Arrand and Damon Darakjy celebrate the anniversary of their birth. Saturday birthdays belong to Gail McGaughey, Shweta Bangaloree Green, Scott Peterson, Wanda Corcoran, Linda Jones and Brock Prince. And another year will be marked on Sunday by Barb Smalley, Cade Coffey, Trinity Newman, Anthony Beckstead, David Cole, Jen Butler, Deirdre Eldredge, Deeann Zahn and Aidyn Dugger.
Monday birthdays for Melanie Simpson, Terri Gervais, Laura McNeil, Jenni Gibson, Jill Swoboda, Jonathan Mueller, Tracie Olin Smith, Kathleen Clancy, Bernadette Oaks, Heather Montee, Dale Fitch, Jamie Oliver and Ashley Gerzina. On Oct. 29 Sandy Patano, Jerry Baltzell, Mark Symons, Kara McCollum, Bill Guy, Amanda Krier, Mary Ransdell, Dave Clark and Shawn Duncan are celebrating.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.