Worthington Springs celebrates Nightmare Before Christmas at city park

Special to the Times

There were zombies, vampires and even a T-rex out in force in Worthington Springs last Saturday as the community gathered to the theme of the Tim Burton movie Nightmare Before Christmas.

Between 400-500 parents and their children dressed up in a wide array of costumes and played, ate and met their friends and neighbors at the Fall festival type event in the city park.

Vendors ranged from the UC Wrestling Team, that sold boiled peanuts and sweet tea to clothing and jewelry sellers.  The costumes showed imagination and innovation, with some based on the movie while others were simply staples of the season.  The whole idea was just to have fun and, on several occasions, young people gathered in the open area at the center of the event to play a game of tag or soccer.

The event was organized and hosted by Kristi Morton and served as an addition to the annual Christmas in the Park event held near Christmas every year.  Children could participate in a number of free games or other pastimes while their parents took time to socialize in the safe, community atmosphere.  Many Union County businesses took time from their regular schedule to set up tables and displays designed as much for entertainment as for selling.

The event, which ran from dusk to full dark, made use of the generous land area of the park and provided the community with a night’s entertainment.

The Union County Wrestling Team was on hand, selling peanuts and sweet tea and having a good time doing it. Pictured are: Harlos Thomas, Isaiah Thomas, Asst. Head Coach Josh Hodges, Head Coach Edwin Johnson and Colin Hadlock.
Scary but sweet, she describes herself as “The Sassy Queen Zombie,” but her Mom calls her Makailynn Rowan.
Oh my goodess…it’s a T-rex! With Nathan Martin inside! Thank heavens that Spiderman was on the job.
From the Small Town Country Boutique in Lake Butler. Pictured are: mom Melissa Taylor, Melaney Richardson, Brandon Taylor, Emilia Franzluebbers and, as Shazam, Jameson Phillips.
Addison McKenzie made a perfect little princess, sure to gather a great many treats.
Three generations all in a row. From Lake Butler: Tammy Page (right), Jessica Harvey (right) and Jayden Williams (middle). All three were spending the evening staffing Halloween Town, sponsored by Tom’s Helping Hands and Simply American Crafts.
If only all officers of the law were this cute!..Bransen Bennett making his police uniform look good.
Mom Jody Pfeiffer was riding heard on her two children, plus one. Pictured are: Riley Noegal, Jody, Garrett Pfeiffer and Layla Brooke Noegal.
The park filled up early for the event, with all of these people already on hand during the first half hour the festival was open.