We’re a little biased, but in a fall season jammed with fun events, the best party of all will happen in Downtown Smithfield next week.

On Halloween evening, throngs of costumed kiddos and grown-ups will descend on Main Street for Safe Trick or Treating. Our front lawn at 228 Main St. is a focal point, as the annual Costume Contest will be held on the Main Street Square stage at 5:45 p.m. 

It’s always fun to see the creativity families put into their costumes. Every year, the judges’ choices get harder. We’ve already started rounding up prizes from downtown businesses, who never disappoint with their generosity. The Costume Contest is free to enter, and advance registration isn’t required. Just show a few minutes early and be ready to walk on stage when your age group is called.

Up and down Main Street, merchants will fill up trick-or-treaters’ buckets between 5 p.m and 7 p.m. When the weather’s pretty, it’s a Mayberry-esque scene. Even if you don’t have kids or plan to dress up yourself, come on down and check it out.

The Town Council this year wisely voted to close Main and Grace streets to vehicular traffic from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This will allow police plenty of time to clear the street before trick-or-treaters arrive in force at 5. A grand Smithfield tradition is for families to head on over to Grace Street after hitting all of the merchants on Main Street. Grace residents are equal parts generous and entertaining as they go all out for the occasion. It’s quite dark by the time most trick-or-treaters arrive, so we’re pleased that the town is being proactive and keeping cars off the street. 

If Halloween isn’t your thing, don’t despair. Our Community Calendar elsewhere in today’s edition features one way after another to get out and enjoy Smithfield this autumn.

Next month brings our favorite of the Smithfield VA Events: the Bacon & Bourbon Festival at Windsor Castle Park. Then there’s Mistletoe Market downtown a week later.

Many organizations are having fall fundraisers, including some delicious prepared food, so check out the Community Calendar for ways to support them.

There’s the Main Street Baptist Church Fall Festival on Oct. 29, church Trunk or Treat events this weekend, the Benn’s United Methodist craft show and American Legion Auxiliary Fall Yard and Bake Sale on Nov. 4, and the Possum Hollow Ruritans’ Pork Butt sale, Windsor Ruritans’ Ham & Fried Chicken Dinner and Woodland UMC Fall Bazaar on Nov. 11.