Fall fest fun

McKinney Park had a few freaks and screams Friday evening as the city kicked off its first-ever Fall Fest, which better resembled a Halloween party.
   Children spent the afternoon getting their faces painted, carving pumpkins, bouncing through the jumpers and snatching candy from the Grim Reaper, a mad scientist, a walking scarecrow, some old guy vaguely resembling a wizard, among several other costumed city parks and recreation employees.
   “She’s enjoying it,” Melissa Jones said of her daughter Alyssa. She heard about the Fall Fest at her bank and decided to stop by for the festivities.
   City Parks and Rec — er, wizard Mike Beard said late Friday afternoon that they had 10 people roaming the park unloading their buckets of candy.
   Fall Fest wasn’t just about Halloween frights and treats for the children. The Pilot Club of Odessa and the Texas Medical Association were handing out 200 free helmets for the parents and children that asked for them. Pilot Club past president Linda Terrell said they were giving the helmets and coloring books out while also running a puppet show to raise awareness on head and brain trauma. Half of the helmets were bought at about $5 a piece by the club after the Texas Medical Association bought the other 100 on a grant.
   “We were hoping 100 wouldn’t be enough,” Terrell said. “We don’t want to take anything home.”
   The Odessa Parks and Recreation Department organized the Fall Fest. A light display was up since Thursday, though Friday was the first day of the actual festivities.
   The Fall Fest will continue at 5:30 p.m. today and the light display will continue through Sunday. Today’s events will be geared more toward a teenaged crowd, starting off with a 5:45 p.m. pumpkin pie-eating contest, a scarecrow-building contest at 6 p.m. and an Xbox 360 Rock Band contest at 7 p.m. played on a giant movie screen. Live music will also be performed from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

IF YOU GO:
   >> What: Fall Fest.
   >> When: Live music from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., pumpkin pie-eating contest at 5:45 p.m. Scarecrow-dressing at 6 p.m. Rock Band contest on Xbox 360 begins at 7 p.m. at the movie screen. Light display from dusk to 10 p.m.
   Light display continues Sunday from dusk until 10 p.m..
   >> Where: McKinney Park, 625 W. Pool Road.
   >> Cost: All activities are free.
   >> Clothes for scarecrow dressing will be donated to Salvation Army.