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Pembroke set for Spooktacular good time
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These runners in a previous Spooktacular 5K/10K ran in costume. - photo by File photo

Pembroke is set to scare up some fun next weekend.

The city will host its Spooktacular, a festival including music, food, children’s activities, a haunted house, free movie and a fundraising 5K/10K run and walk, on Oct. 24.

“It’s a full day. Downtown should be busy,” said Sharroll Fanslau, director of the Downtown Development Authority of Pembroke.

The day will begin with the fourth annual Spooktacular 5K/10K at 8 a.m. at Bryan County High School. The course runs over and around the railroad tracks in Pembroke and, in the spirit of Halloween, through the local cemetery.

Early registration, through Friday, is $25 for the 5K and $30 for the 10K for adults and $20 for ages 18 and younger.

Each entry fee increases by $5 for registration between Saturday and Oct. 23, and by another $5 for race-day registration.

Online registration is available at savannahraces.com. Proceeds from the race will go toward a planned recreation project in the city.

“We have gathered $10,000 from the three previous races together, and we’re using that toward a fitness trail in the future for the city of Pembroke,” Mayor Mary Warnell said.

Following the race, the city will have the Spooktacular festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at DuBois Square.

The activities will include a bounce house, hay rides, raffles and vendor booths, as well as costume contests for both kids and pets. A disc jockey will play music at Dubois Square, and Pembroke Christian Church will have live entertainment.

Entries in the carved-pumpkin contest will be taken until 11 a.m. No carving will be done at the park; the jack-o’-lanterns must be ready when they are turned in.

A barbecue cook-off will begin the day prior to the Spooktacular, and the winners will be announced at the festival at 1:30 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded for the tastiest chicken, pork butt and ribs.

The entry fee for the cook-off is $150, and deadline to sign up is Monday. To register or for more information, call 653-4583.

“Several of the barbecue contestants have gotten booths, and they’ll be selling their barbecue this year during the festival,” Fanslau said.

Spooktacular visitors also can check out a photography exhibition by Dr. Curt Hames of Claxton. “Reflections of Me: Curt’s World” will be on display Wednesday through Oct. 30 at the Downtown Arts Centre at 38 W. Bacon St. in downtown Pembroke.

Pembroke Fire and Rescue’s haunted house will open at 6 p.m. at the old Tos Theater. The festival will conclude with a free showing of the movie “How to Train Your Dragon 2” in Dubois Square at dark.

“It’ll be a fun day for the city,” Warnell said.

And a full one. The activities will start early, with a “monster mash dash” for children at 7:30 a.m. preceding the Spooktacular 5K/10K at 8.

Runners are encouraged to wear costumes for the race. However, face masks aren’t allowed, “just to make sure they can see where they’re running,” Warnell said.

The Spooktacular began with Pembroke holding its first 5K/10K run in 2012. It since has evolved into a fall festival.

“We threw our first 5K together in less than six weeks, and we were very successful with it,” Warnell said. “It has turned into Spooktacular Saturday.”

For more information about the Spooktacular run or festival, call Pembroke City Hall at 653-4413.

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