The Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz” was spotted handing out treats at this year’s Hanceville Fall Fest. / W.C. Mann
HANCEVILLE – On Sunday afternoon, downtown Hanceville was taken over by ghouls and goblins, heroes and villains, and all manner of hunters for candy-flavored treasures, as the city held its annual Fall Fest. The event was truly a community event: coordinated by members of First Baptist Church Hanceville, in cooperation with other area churches: First Baptist Church of Garden City, Faith Restoration Church, Garden City Congregational Church, Hanceville First United Methodist Church, Laodicea Freewill Baptist Church, Northside Church of Christ, St. Boniface Catholic Church and Trinity Lutheran Church. Hanceville High School’s student council, Hanceville Knapsacks for Kids and Operation Christmas Child had cars or tents set up along the route.
Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail said, “The City just plays a supportive role; we close streets and provide security, and stuff like that.”
The mayor estimated a turnout of 6,500 to 7,500. By 4:30 trick-or-treaters and their families were lined up from Highway 31 up Commercial Street to First Baptist, from there up Bangor Avenue to Blountsville Street, and from that intersection a block back toward the highway. More than 50 cars participated in trunk-or-treat, and more than 100 volunteers gave out candy and tended a side street filled with kids’ inflatables. Hanceville Police brought vehicles, and the Cullman Police Department sent a helicopter. Hanceville Fire and Rescue handed out free popcorn.
Business and corporate event sponsors included American Proteins Inc., Birmingham Fastener, City of Hanceville, Clark Gas Company, Dairy Queen, Dale's, Deb's Tires & Accessories, Dollar General, Hanceville Drug Company, Hanceville Elementary PTO, Hanceville EXXON, James Auto Parts, Just Repurposed, Kat Parker Photography, and Luna's BBQ.
Said Nail, “This is a great alternative to going out and beating on doors at night, and it’s a good safe environment. The several years we’ve done this, we’ve never had a problem, never had an incident, so it’s really been a good thing. I think the community likes it. Seems like everybody has a good time, and a lot of fun.
“We want to do more festivals like this downtown. If you look around, from this time last year, you see several things that’s going on, so we hope every year a few more grows. We just hope it continues to grow, and comes back alive.”
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