Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular takes place downtown

  • The unofficial armband count for people coming into the Grayberry Spectacular totaled 4,800 for the event that grows every year. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
    The unofficial armband count for people coming into the Grayberry Spectacular totaled 4,800 for the event that grows every year. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
  • A child in costume at one of the trunks helps give out candy to other children at the Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular. NATHAN CLARKE/Contributed
    A child in costume at one of the trunks helps give out candy to other children at the Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular. NATHAN CLARKE/Contributed
  • One of the more creative costumes seen at the event was Barbie who was complete with the box she came in. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
    One of the more creative costumes seen at the event was Barbie who was complete with the box she came in. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
  • Creativity was on display with some ready-made costumes and others coming from the imagination. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
    Creativity was on display with some ready-made costumes and others coming from the imagination. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
  • Batman receives a piece of candy from the Magnolia State Bank trunk at the Spectacular event. NATHAN CLARKE/Contributed
    Batman receives a piece of candy from the Magnolia State Bank trunk at the Spectacular event. NATHAN CLARKE/Contributed
  • Members of the Jones County Pilot Club manned the back of a truck filled with candy for the event. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
    Members of the Jones County Pilot Club manned the back of a truck filled with candy for the event. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
  • The staff of the Jones County Library were in costume giving out books instead of candy in partnership with Jones County schools. More than 600 books were distributed. BRANDY ROUND/Staff
    The staff of the Jones County Library were in costume giving out books instead of candy in partnership with Jones County schools. More than 600 books were distributed. BRANDY ROUND/Staff

    The annual Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular, a free community-wide Halloween event, took place in downtown Gray on Oct. 21, providing families a chance to trunk-or-treat in a safe environment.

    Ashley Roberson, Main Street Gray director, said she was happy to see so many families enjoying the event. She said First Baptist Church in Gray, Gray United Methodist Church and Main Street Gray all helped to put the event together for the evening.

    “We had our Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular going on, which is a large community trunk-or-treat event here in downtown Gray,” she said. “We had 97 trunks available for the kids to stop by. We had a lot for families to do to enjoy a fun Halloween event.”

    She said the event was free, except for the food from the food trucks people could purchase. She said in addition to all the trunks with candy, the families had a chance to take advantage of the inflatables, visit Princess Anna from Frozen, get pictures taken, and get face paintings.

    “We were hoping for a really great turn out, because last year turned out wonderful. We wanted things to be bigger and better this year. This was important for Jones County, because we need to come together as a community and show we have such a strong partnership to have events like this for families here,” Roberson said.

    The director said she was happy to see so many people at the Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular. She said everyone put in a lot of hard work to get the event ready, and she was excited to see the community come out to participate with their families at the event.

    Roberson said she feels everyone enjoyed the event, and she was excited to see all the interesting costumes the children chose for Halloween. She said having the Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular is a great alternative to regular doorto- door trick-or-treating and provides a safe environment for families.

    “I love how everyone comes together for such a great cause. I love how it highlights the downtown area,” the director said. “People get a chance to see what we have downtown while enjoying a fun event with their families. The kids also left with a lot of candy.”