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Published Saturday, October 31, 2009 in Local

Photo by Bob Fraley

Rochelle Norred passes out some candy to Matthew Gibson, 6, during the Main Street Newnan trick or treat Friday. The event was scaled back to morning hours this year to focus on the younger crowd.

Pirates, zombies, tons of candy on tap today

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

Downtown Newnan welcomed Coweta's youngest trick-or-treaters Friday morning, but the official day -- Halloween is today -- has plenty of activities for celebrants of all ages.

Those taking the traditional trick-or-treat route may find themselves near an elaborate pirate ship setup. There are two in different parts of the county.

A local retirement home is welcoming costumed youngsters in the early evening. There also are plenty of fall festivals today, as well as opportunities for being "haunted" at old buildings in Grantville, Greenville and Hogansville.

As the witching hour approaches, there will also be a midnight play with a zombie theme.

Some youngsters who say, "Trick or treat," may get an "Ahoy, matey" in response. There are pirate ships on the lawn at the homes of Dawn and Steve Swansbrough in east Coweta and Carrie and Philip Knight in the historic College-Temple neighborhood in Newnan.

The Swansbroughs -- who have been mounting an elaborate Halloween display for several years, live at 255 Barrington Grange Drive in the Barrington Farms subdivision off Andrew Bailey Road.

This year, there is a haunted cemetery and pirate ships. "We have Amelia the flying ghost, Jumpin' George, a handmade hearse, a mausoleum haunted by an animated witch, a crypt, pop-up pirates and ghouls," Steve Swansbrough said.

The legendary Black Pearl pirate ship has crashed into Swansbrough Manor itself. New this year is a 40-foot ship resembling the Flying Dutchman from "The Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Guests can walk through a pirate ship and meet live and animated pirates along the way.

"The event is free, but we are accepting donations to Thomas Crossroads Elementary School's art and music programs," Dawn Swansbrough said. All proceeds will go to the school, and last Halloween the Swansbroughs raised $575 for the school.

Swansbrough Manor will be receiving visitors tonight from 6-10.

The Knights live in a 100-year-old home on College Street in downtown Newnan. A life-sized pirate ship sits in their front yard, beckoning tonight's trick-or-treaters. The popularity of "Pirates of the Carribean" inspired them when they first constructed a pirate ship several years ago.

Automated skeletons in pirate garb dance and sing. "We had 1,500 trick-or-treaters last year," said Mrs. Knight.

Georgian Place, an assisted living community on Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard, will -- for the fourth year -- hold Trick or Treat Street tonight. Children up to age 12 are invited to visit from 6-8 p.m.

Other events on the calendar today include:

* Biketoberfest and Poker Run, Great South Harley Davidson, 185 Highway 16 E, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. This fundraiser is for Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity. Registration is from 9-11:30 a.m. There will be vendors, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing -- as well as live entertainment and bikers trunk and treat.

There also will be a Biker/Bike Halloween Costume Contest -- nothing scary -- and a hula hoop contest, pumpkin carving contest and activities for children.

Prizes will be awarded at 4 p.m.

* Harvest Festival, All Saints Anglican Church, Peachtree City, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Pony rides, games, music. Handcrafted items, jewelry, stained glass, decorative gourds. Vendors, silent auction. Homemade cakes, hotdogs, popcorn, soft drinks. Proceeds to youth ministry/church building fund.

* Fall Festival, White Oak Shopping Center parking lot, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Booths, moonwalk, country store, dunking tank. Barbecue plates, $5. Cake auction, 2 p.m. Sponsor: Newnan Christian School.

* Youth Block Praise, New Life Tabernacle, noon. Face painting, games, music.

* Fall-O-Ween Him Festival, Grace Covenant Worship Center, noon-6 p.m.

* Hallelujah Autumn Festival, Providence Baptist Church, Summers-McKoy Road, 1 p.m. Cake walk, coloring contest, games, food, prizes.

* Fall Outreach Program, Heatherwood Baptist Church at White Oak, 2-5:30 p.m. Jerusalem Marketplace, free food, games. Bible Journey tours last about 90 minutes -- last one 90 minutes before close. Chili cookoff, Oct. 31, 5-6 p.m.

* Hallelujah Festival, St. Smyrna Baptist Church, 4-7 p.m.

* Harvest Fest, Senoia United Methodist Church, 4-8 p.m. Face painting, music, snacks, soup, sandwiches. Trunk or treat, 6-8 p.m.

* Grantville Haunted House, 19 LaGrange St., 4 p.m.-midnight. Younger children can come from 4-5:30 p.m. for trick or treating and a non-scary visit to the house. Admission, $5.

* Fall Festival, Woolsey Baptist Church, Fayetteville, 4:30-7 p.m. For children through sixth grade. Hot dog supper under the pavilion, 5-6 p.m. Inflatables, popcorn, trunk or treat, cake walk, games, candy, hayride, face painting.

* Trunk or Treat, Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, Summers-McKoy Road, 5-6 p.m.

* A Night At the Farm, Sovereign Grace Church, LaGrange, 5-7 p.m. Games, prizes, candy, food, moonwalk, slide, obstacle course. Free.

* Trunk and Treat, John Hardy Parking lot across from City Hall in Hogansville, 5:30-7:30 p.m. -- rain or shine.

* Fall Festival, Unity Baptist Church, 6-8 p.m. Candy bags, games.

* Fall Festival, Macedonia Baptist Church, 6-8 p.m. Circus atmosphere, trunk or treat, inflatable bouncer, cake walk, door prize drawings. Hot dogs and drinks -- free for children, for sale to adults.

* Harvest Fest, Flat Creek Baptist Church, Fayetteville, 6-8 p.m. Games, candy, inflatables, cake walk, hot dogs, trunk or treat.

* Fall Festival, First Baptist Church, Newnan, 6-9 p.m.

* A House of Horrors, in the old theater behind City Hall in downtown Hogansville, 6-10 p.m. Admission -- $10 adults/$5 ages 12 and younger.

* Greenville Jail Haunted House, off the Court Square, Greenville. Starts 7:45 p.m. Admission, $5.

* "Zombie Prom," Newnan Community Theatre Company, midnight. This rollicking musical is a zany combination of a 1950s rock and roll musical with a zombie swirled into the plot. Tickets may be purchased from the theater's Web site, newnantheatre.org or by calling the theater at 770-683-6282.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $10 for children. Special passes and season tickets cannot be used for the show.

Some fall themed events remain on the calendar after today. The Lone Oak Country Festival will be held in downtown Lone Oak on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Baked goods, handmade crafts, jewelry and a flea market will be part of the fun.

Sponsors are Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church and the Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department.

White Plains United Methodist Church at St. Marks will be holding a Harvest Festival on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. Hayrides, games, arts and crafts and food are planned.

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