Halloween celebrated in region

A NUMBER of American-born residents relished the opportunity last week to provide a taste of Halloween celebrations in their new country.

Former United States resident George Copelin has continued to celebrate the holiday since arriving in Australia and enjoys seeing more young children participate in the American tradition of trick or treating.

Mr Copelin, who owns the Mount Burr General Store, hosted his first Halloween party at the shop last year with the support of Rosie Copelin, Jack Brown and Janet and Georgie Hales.

He said the store’s spooky setting – including fake blood, spider webs and jack o’lanterns – took 20 hours to produce.

“It’s all in the details and the kids just love it,” he said.

“We get trick or treaters from Penola, Naracoorte and Kalangadoo.”

Mr Copelin said he participated in trick or treating as a child in Florida, but said the American-based celebration had become more focused on adults dressing up and partying.

He said the holiday was still focused on children in Australia.

Store employee Janet Hales said Mount Burr residents also get into the holiday spirit, with one woman going ‘all out’ with her decorations.

“For those people who say, ‘oh it’s an American thing’, well, you do not have to join in,” she said.

“It’s all about the kids really.

“Their little faces just light up when they see the shop, it’s all that matters.”

Hawaiian expat Sal Pimental and his family have celebrated Halloween for a number of years, with the 2019 event featuring an interactive haunted house.

He said the family attempts to go bigger each year as they have a reputation for All Hallow’s Eve extravagance.

“When we first started though, there was nothing,” Mr Pimental said.

“It was probably around 2008 and 2010 when Halloween decorations started appearing in the shops and now it has become more popular.

“Where I come from in Hawaii, people spend all day doing haunted houses and they try to make them cool and different every year.”

Mr Pimental said Millicent households registered as trick or treat friendly houses online in a bid to inform children and adults when and where to doorknock for lollies.

“In America we have started to do that as well, so kids know which houses are safe.”

Mr Pimental’s wife Michelle said the whole family became involved in Halloween, with young son Noah acting as a haunted house guide.

“It’s just good fun for the kids,” she said.

“It’s nice to give back and put a smile on someone’s face.”

Cindy Stevenson, who moved to Millicent from Washington, said she usually decorates her house, but had to miss this year due to health reasons.

“Every year when the kids come by I teach them the Halloween saying ‘trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat’.

“The trick or treat candy comes in bulk in America and they have only started doing it here.”

Husband Ken estimated 200 children had visited the Stevenson house during last year’s Halloween event.