I really like Halloween. I was that kid who was always drawn to the spooky, to the weird. Drawn to the creepiest of fairy tales, and let’s be honest, most of the stories collected by Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm were pretty creepy.

We had a book when I was a kid, a massive folio of fairy tales and excerpts from books like Mary Poppins and The Hobbit. One illustration always fascinated me, long before I could read — an entire page depicting the moment that the lost children Hansel and Gretel were confronted by the wicked witch who dwelled in the house of candy and gingerbread.

Sugary delights meet fear. Halloween.

In my youth, Halloween was my dad driving my brothers and I around town. There were not many places to walk to from the farmhouse at Sleepy Hollow. We visited far flung neighbors. Trick or Treating was kind of a big deal. A Jack O Lantern shining in front of a rural home was enough to signify that this was a place to get candy.

By the time I had my own kids, things had changed. Trunk or Treat is now a thing, where kids can be delivered to a safe and singular location, generally a parking lot, and get all the candy they could want or need from folks who distribute it from the backs of their cars, often elaborately decorated.

I can get behind this, though my Gen X brain struggles with Trunk or Treat events occurring on days other than October 31.

More acceptable, to the traditionalist in me, is the development of Trick or Treat hot spots — neighborhoods where youth seeking free candy will find easy pickings. Many towns have these, and one has arisen in Lincolnville Center in the years that my children have been growing up.

We arrive at Halloween 2026.

One child is off at college, continuing her father’s love of the holiday by determining the best outfit(s) for gatherings on that Massachusetts campus. The other two have their own plans, independent young adults.

I still like to dress up, and this yearly article is my excuse. It is a job, I need to cover Lincolnville’s festivities for the Pilot, even if my days of planning elaborate costumes for my family are far behind me.

My ever-accommodating wife agreed to accompany me, even donning a complimentary costume, though she would have been more comfortable marking the end of an intense week on the couch next to a dog or two.

Our first stop was the Lincolnville Volunteer Fire Department. The Halloween Spirit is strong with the men and women who protect our town, and they outdid themselves this year turning the station into hub of everything spooky. Plenty of candy, music, a costume contest, and even a terrifying haunted house. 

Arriving, I noticed that there were several people dressed similarly, with prominent mustaches. It wasn’t until I talked to two young ladies at the entrance to the haunted house, that I understood what was going on. I identified the first’s costume correctly as Eleven from Stranger Things but was stumped by the second, who was sporting a large mustache.  She pointed out her name-tag: Shawna Surbey. Ah, apparently many of the firefighters and relatives of firefighters had chosen to dress up as Shawn Surbey, the most firefighter-y of our all-volunteer crew. Shawn had come dressed as Mario.

Fun fact: I learned just the other day that the stereotypical firefighter mustache is because their chins must remain clean-shaven to accommodate their breathing apparatus. Clearly not a problem for the female firefighters.

Anyway, I entered the haunted house alone, as my wife had become preoccupied chatting with some of her old colleagues from her time on the School Committee. I am a mature adult, but, dang, I may have been slightly, well, a bit startled by what lay within. I have posted the photos I took along my 2026 Halloween journey (see below).

This year, the LVFD provided a shuttle in the form of a spooky school bus traveling between the station, the Library, and the school. The pirate behind the wheel looked a bit familiar to me.

My wife, however, agreed to drive us to the end of Main Street so we could walk from Owen’s General Store to the Library and back. 

As the sun set, we were able to take in Lincolnville just being awesome. Parents and grandparents carrying or transporting the littlest Lincolnville residents in strollers or wagons, packs of older kids running ahead of their guardians, costumes scary or funny or obscure- only relevant to those in the know. Creativity on display. Dooryards lit, and treats freely given.

Halloween traces its roots from an ancient pagan ritual, to a Christian holiday, to a night of mischief, to a children’s celebration of candy and disguises, to what it is today, which might be a combination of all. Where adults are having as much fun as the kids, remembering their own Halloween nights 20, 40, or 60 years before.

I can see why the ancient Celts viewed this time as the end of the year. The crops are harvested, food has been put away for winter. The wood is stacked, the cold months are ahead. The little ones have enough sugar to last.

Wreath Sale

With Halloween behind us, it is time for the annual LCS-PTO wreath sale. There will be two delivery dates: for wreathes delivered the week of November 20, get your order in by November 4. Get your order in by November 13 for a delivery of the week of December 1. Order yours using this form here. You can pay by cash, check, or by Venmo this year.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers will meet from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. All are welcome, whatever your skill with fabric arts. Mah-Jongg, open play for all levels will be on Wednesday, November 4 from 5-7 p.m. and Friday, November 6 from 12-2 p.m. Cribbage for Everyone will be 3-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5. Bring your little ones to the Library 10 a.m. Saturday, November 7 for Music Together.

Third of November

Tuesday is Election Day. At least according to screens upon screens of unsolicited text messages on my phone. I am not an early voter, and I will show up at the Lincolnville Central School gym on Hope Road November 3 to vote in person. Actually, I am just hoping to score some breakfast treats from the church lady bake sale.

That reminds me, I am not a church lady, but I am loosely affiliated with the church, and I think I agreed to bake something. 

Amongst other candidates, Lincolnville will be voting for our state representative for District 40. Incumbent Mike Ray will face off against Joe McLaughlin, both Lincolnville residents, and both good guys who I know well personally. In a year when political races have been especially nasty, Joe and Mike have run a clean campaign, and I respect them even more for this. 

So if you haven’t already, get out there and vote your conscience Tuesday, and there is nothing more small town than having the opportunity to cancel out the vote of one of your friends. You know the one.

Here we are at November, Lincolnville, and the year winds down. Tracee has started making noise about Christmas, but I am starting to plot out Thanksgiving dinner. Have a wonderful week, look out for one another. Reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.