Annual Fall-O-Ween Festival Draws Thousands to Copperas Cove City Park

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

Witches and mummies and superheroes and princesses alike took over City Park at the city of Copperas Cove’s annual Fall-O-Ween Festival Saturday afternoon. 

An estimated 6,500 people came out to enjoy free trick or treating, games, crafts, and to shop from market vendors. 

Entry to the festival was free, but parking in City Park was $5 per carload. 

Local businesses and organizations set up their booths to pass out candy to the long, long line of trick or treaters, with the line extending past Field 4 less than an hour after the gates opened at 4 p.m. 

The list of candy vendors includes: 5 Hills Crossfit, Airheads HVAC, Expo Home, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Ace Dental, Mount Hiram Lodge #595, Navy Federal Credit Union, Copperas Cove Citizens Police Academy, JNO G Lewis Masonic Lodge #622, Priority Charter Schools – Copperas Cove, Domino’s Pizza, CCPD, CCFD, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, HH Thin Blue Line LEMC, S.C. Lee Cheerleaders, Citizens Fire and Public Safety, 5 Hills Pest and Wildlife Solutions, CCHS HOSA chapter, Jersey Mike’s, CCISD DECA chapter, Raising Cane’s, CCISD Art Honor Society, Renewal By Anderson, Shoulders to Healing, H-E-B, Crawford Bowers, Herb and Earnies/The Cove Theater, Smile Doctors Orthodontics, Be Well Insurance Solutions, Davy Crockett Lodge #193, Phil’s Service. 

Market Vendors included: Fun Flashers, The Loot Box CG, Jokes Kreations, YUMS, JenX, Chibi Life, More Butter Bakery, Crafting to Hope, Arctic Treats, Drip Queen Resin Art Design, Central Texas Croc Charms and the FFA Booster Club. 

In addition to a trackless train, which was new this year, the event also featured bounce houses, games, photo displays, a petting zoo, a pumpkin decorating station and a pumpkin patch (with a total of 600 pumpkins provided by the Copperas Cove H-E-B Plus!), a costume contest and food trucks, according to Ashley Wilson, Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Office Manager. 

Wilson said that this year, the city opted not to have a Movie in the Park towards the end of the festival after noticing lower turnout in previous years. She said that she thought the turnout was great, especially considering the warmer temperature. 

“It’s great to see the kids and all of their costumes,” Wilson said. “It’s great to see local businesses and organizations to give back to the community as well, because the candy vendors, they supply all of their own candy, so that is something that they’re also giving back. So, it’s really great just to see everybody working together to make it great for the community.” 

Krista Nolan and Jennifer Rojas-Helms attended Fall-O-Ween Festival together with their three children, ages 1, 6 and 8. Nolan and her one-year-old son coordinated their costumes, dressing up as Peter Pan and Wendy They come every single year, Rojas-Helms said. 

“It keeps on growing every year,” she added. “There’s a lot of people that come from different parts of the area, like Killeen, Waco, Salado, Belton. It kind of brings everybody out to here.” 

The variety of activities available were also very appreciated. 

“It feels like it’s good for all kids,” Nolan said. “[My son’s] not big enough to partake in like bouncy houses, but he’s big enough to do this [train ride] and the trick or treating, kind of.” 

Rojas-Helms added that another thing she liked about this year’s festival was that it felt spaced out enough to not feel so close together with other people at the event.