Three free-admission Halloween events will be hosted around Starkville for all community members to attend Oct. 26.
MSU Student Association has worked in conjunction with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to host two events on Mississippi State University’s campus. One such event is the annual “Costume Carnival.”
The costume carnival will be held in the Junction and is open for all MSU and Starkville community members alike. SA has worked with different organizations and departments on campus to set up unique booths and carnival games for this event. There will also be a kids’ costume contest, face painting and Bully’s Kid Zone for young children. This year, the carnival will run from 5 – 7 p.m.
The Student Association is also working with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to host “Trick or Treat on the Row” throughout Fraternity Row.
Student Association President Ellie Herndon said that SA works with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life each year to host both events simultaneously.
“So that way, families and kids are able to walk across some of our Greek houses and go trick-or-treating there and then they can walk over to The Junction and head to the Costume Carnival,” Herndon said.
Herndon said her favorite aspect of the carnival is the collaboration between organizations in order to give back to the Starkville community.
“I think that we are really lucky as a student body to be supported by the Starkville Community and all the families, faculty, and staff that live here full time,” Herndon said. “So, getting to see a way that we may give back to some of the different Starkville families and kind of engage with them is always a really exciting experience, and I think it’s something that people look forward to each year.”
Peyton Rigdon, director of activities on the Panhellenic Executive Council, believes it is good to give back to the community that provides so much to students.
“I think my favorite part about it is seeing the community because we always talk about how Mississippi State and students are so impacted by this community,” Rigdon said.
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life John Michael Vanhorn said “Trick or Treat on the Row” is a powerful method of Greek life outreach.
“For a lot of these families, this is the one opportunity that they get to see your fraternity or sorority so it’s kind of a make-or-break impression of what they think of you, and it’s a good way to connect chapters and the Starkville community,”Vanhorn said.
“Trick or Treat on the Row” is free of charge for kids to trick-or-treat at each of the different Greek houses from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Members of each chapter will be outside of the houses passing out candy in bulk.
Vanhorn said many families will participate in the on-campus events and then head down to Pumpkinpalooza, Starkville’s annual harvest festival.
Chick-fil-A Starkville and the Starkville Main Street Association will be hosting Pumpkinpalooza from 5 – 7 p.m.
Director of Main Street Paige Watson said the city has been planning for Pumpkinpalooza for at least half a year.
This year’s festival will include a variety of family-oriented Halloween activities. There will be bounce houses, games and face painting. Chick-fil-A will sell food and hand out candy with their cow mascot The MSU trolley bus will also be providing glow-in-the-dark transit.
“We have 10 different community organizations and nonprofits that are doing trunk-or-treating stations,” Watson said.
Watson also said that there would be a downtown pumpkin patch, along with the annual pumpkin race.
“The Talladegourd is hilarious,” Watson said. “People pay $50 to enter a pumpkin and watch it race down Main Street off a ramp set up in the event area. There are different race ‘heats’ and one winner is crowned at the end of the race. The winner gets $250 to donate to their favorite local charity.”
Watson said that about 5,000 people attend the festival each year and that the festival has been going on anywhere from 10 to 15 years now.
“I have a nephew and I love that he gets to come to it,” Watson said. “It’s just a fun event for people of all ages.”
Ray Iglay, a professor in MSU’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, enjoys celebrating Halloween at annual events with his family.
“Between the student groups and Greek life – i.e., sorority row – our kids had a blast getting tons of candy while visiting campus. Meanwhile, we didn’t have to worry about messing with limited parking in most Starkville neighborhoods,” Iglay said.

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Mary Georgia Hamilton | The Reflector

The Downtown Pumpkinpalooza, Starkville's annual harvest festival, includes a pumpkin race.