Lions and tigers and twin toddler Supermen �“ Oh my!! The annual Halloween party at the Sonoita Fairgrounds was rocking with costumed kids and adults Friday night.

Ghouls, goblins and superheroes were out in full force on Halloween 2009 in Sonoita. Photo / Cynthia Matus Morriss

Led by Anita Kay with the help of Monica Rigas and Tina Letarte, and the participation of several businesses and organizations, Pioneer Hall was set to entertain and satisfy every kid’s Halloween candy dreams on Oct. 30.

The Elgin/Sonoita Cowbelles had several tables loaded with cakes and cupcakes and put on their annual cake walk. The excited faces of the kids with their brightly frosted prizes was proof of the success of this booth.

The Mountain Empire Rotary Club donated bicycle helmets to all the kids and also had a pin the pumpkin ono the haunted house game It was presided over by a ghoulish Keith Barth. Beth Sheid was dressed as Flo the waitress.

High Noon Feed Store owner Carol Schmitt wrapped up as a mummy, presided over a contest to see who could put the most marshmallows in his or her mouth and still be able to speak.

Off to the races

Sonoita Feed erected a race track and held stick horse races for the kids. This was a favorite area for the twin 18-month-old Superman, one of whom used the head of the stick horse to sweep up the stray straw in the aisle, while the other one used his horse as a weapon.

The Girl Scouts ran a duck pond game with prizes for the kids.

The Sonoita-Elgin Fire District set up a haunted house. A young man running past to join the line said excitedly that there was a man in the haunted house chasing kids with a chain saw.

Involvement

The Sonoita Chamber of Commerce, Little Burro Gifts, Many Horses Trading Post, Empire Homes, Sonoita Fuel Stop, SBBI, Sonoita Auto Service Center, Marsha Burden Realty, Sonoita Realty, Charlie Kentnor Realtor, Sonoita Hardware/ Buffalo Gals, Elgin Electric, and KAAT Mini-Mart, and High Noon Feed and Grain, all contributed to make this party such a success. Melinda Anderson provided many of the decorations. Hot dogs and snacks were provided by community donations.

Many otherwise mature adults came in costumes. The Matthews family was dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz, their baby in the stroller as Dorothy complete with a stuffed Toto in a wicker basket. Anita Kay’s costume of the Hindu goddess Shiva with her many arms was dramatic and a little unnerving when all eight lifelike arms would move.

Anita Kay is planning next year’s party. She would like to include a carved pumpkin contest to showcase the creativity that is present in this community. “I love Halloween. It is my very favorite holiday,” she said. “And I would like to see that more people could have more fun.”