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SalineOWeen event planned for Halloween |
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Monday, 24 August 2009 |
Music lovers and trick-or-treaters will come together at the Saline County Fairgrounds on Oct. 31 for the inaugural SalineOWeen festival. The event begins for all ages at 10 a.m., but the live music — the main draw of the day — will begin at 6 p.m. and last until midnight.
The event will benefit Within REACH (Redirection, Education, Avocation, Counseling and Housing), a program that offers a home to homeless or “couch-surfing” teenagers who are older than 16.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate at $3 for adults and $2 for children 6-12. Children younger than 5 get in free.
Food vendors, carnival games, pony rides, a barrel train and other kid-friendly activities will be available until 6 p.m. Booths selling various goods, including temporary tattoos, woodwork and jewelry, will also be part of the festivities.
Booth space is still available for rent. Booths measure 10 feet by 10 feet and can be rented for $35. Booths with electricity rent for $55.
Attendees can test their throwing abilities at the pie-throwing booth. Shelli Russell, a member of the board of directors for Within REACH, said many local municipal leaders are on the list to serve time in the booth. Craig O’Neil of KTHV-TV will be taking pies in the face for the cause. Russell wants area football coaches to volunteer in the booth. Each pie will cost $1 to throw.
Trick-or-treater are encouraged to wear their costumes and participate in the costume contest. Every booth will give out candy, allowing families to complete their annual trick-or-treating at the event.
The event will include several contests, including the Unofficial State Nut Queen Pageant.
“I like to call it the pageant for people with inner beauty. When a lot of people hear “pageant,” they think little girls. This is not that,” Russell said.
As the day winds down at SalineOween, the music will begin. The feature act, ZOSO, is a “premiere” Led Zeppelin tribute band. Three local bands and one regional band are also scheduled to perform, including Finding Jimmy Hoffa and Monoxide project.
“We wanted a show to attract teenagers,” Russell said.
Patrick Beam, otherwise know as “Angry” Patrick from “The Edge” KDJE 100.3FM, serves on the board of directors with Russell.
“He has been “tireless in helping to get the bands together and figure out the stage set-up,” she said.
Beam spent a couple of his teenage years living in various friends’ homes and “making all the wrong decisions,” as he said.
“If in any way at all, I can help them to find a better path, then I feel like I am taking my negative experience and using it for a positive benefit,” Beam said.
Through Beam’s work as a comedian, radio personality and event coordinator, he has been able to call many of his friends and other contacts to donate their talent to the event.
“We have one of the best rated Christian rock bands in the state (Higher Cry). Jeff Coleman and the Feeders was a massive win for us! They take country to another level. I really got excited about the Mike Dollins Band because when you talk about blues, these cats can wail. We also have comics like Doc the Comedian, Michael Brown and many more,” Beam said.
Concert attendees may be able to purchase alcohol at the event; but the event planners are still unsure about the decision, Russell said.
A complete band line-up and a list of other events at SalineOween are available at www.salineoween.com. Booth rental information is on the Web site as well.
“All talent aside, this is about helping kids that need us. Not kids from far away, but right in our home town,” Beam said.
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