Ham-o-ween 2023: Rain didn’t dampen spirits of trick-or-treaters
Published 5:21 pm Wednesday, November 1, 2023
- Sarah, Emma and April Tafoya of Smithfield brave the rain in costume. (Photos by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
Rain and a nearly 50-degree drop in temperature from the previous day didn’t dampen the spirits of trick-or-treaters, who once again flocked to Main and Grace streets on Oct. 31 for Smithfield’s annual Halloween festivities, or Ham-o-ween as it’s known locally in the town that’s home to the world’s largest pork producer, Smithfield Foods.
The town closed Main and Grace streets at 4 p.m., an hour earlier than in past years, for Smithfield’s annual safe trick-or-treat. Main Street merchants handed out candy from 5-7 p.m., and the annual costume contest, hosted by The Smithfield Times at the Main Street Square Stage, went ahead despite the on-and-off drizzle.
The Times awarded prizes for the scariest, cutest and most original costumes for five categories, ages newborn to 5, ages 6-11, 12-17, adult and family. This year also featured a judge’s choice winner.
This year’s winners are as follows:
From left are Jack Curry, Wesson Beaver, Jayce Papallo and Wyatt Noell, winners of the annual Smithfield Halloween costume contest in the newborn to age 5 category. Curry won the scariest award. Beaver and Papallo won first and second place, respectively, in the cutest division, and Noell was named most original.
Newborn to age 5
- Scariest: Jack Curry
- Cutest: Wesson Beaver (first place), Jayce Papallo (second place)
- Most original: Wyatt Noell
From left are ages 6-11 costume contest winners Brea Davis, Roselind Proulx, Zuri Teller, Aaron Gunderson, Josiah Jones and Landon Watson. Davis and Proulx won first and second place, respectively, in the scariest division. Teller was named cutest and Jones and Watson won first and second place, respectively, in the most original category.
Ages 6-11
- Scariest: Brea Davis (first place), Rosalind Proulx (second place)
- Cutest: Zuri Teller (first place), Aaron Gunderson (second place)
- Most original: Josiah Jones (first place), Landon Watson (second place)
From left are ages 12-17 costume contest winners Addy Swanner, Brooke Williams, Zella Mace, Ella Teller, David Reintjes and Lilly Teller. Swanner and Williams won first and second place, respectively, in the scariest division. Mace and Ella Teller won the cutest award. Reintjes and Lilly Teller won first and second place, respectively, in the most original category.
Ages 12-17
- Scariest: Addy Swanner (first place), Brooke Williams (second place)
- Cutest: Zella Mace (first place), Ella Teller (second place)
- Most original: David Reintjes (first place), Lilly Teller (second place)
From left are ages 18 and up costume contest winners Jay Kno, Sandra Gibbs, Nathaniel Griffey, Alisha Brown and Zach Griffey. Kno won the scariest award. Gibbs and Nathaniel Griffey won first and second place, respectively, in the cutest category. Brown and Zach Griffey won first and second place, respectively, in the most original category.
Adult
- Scariest: Jay Kno
- Cutest Sandra Gibbs (first place), Nathaniel Griffey (second place)
- Most original: Alisha Brown (first place), Zack Griffey (second place)
Family
- Scariest: Jay Kno, Brooke Williams and Josiah Jones
- Cutest: Curt, Aby and Eddie Newsome (first place), Jayce Papallo, Savannah Church, Kristy Wilson and Lois Wilson (second place)
- Most original: Audrey Teller and Samson Proulx (first place), Landon, Rachel and Casey Watson (second place)
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- Jay Kno, his daughter, Brooke Williams, and son, Josiah Jones, won the scariest costume award in the family category for their butcher-themed attire.
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- Curt, Aby and Eddie Newsome won the first-place cutest costume award in the family category for their matching outfits.
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- Jayce Papallo, Savannah Church, Kristy Wilson and Lois Wilson won the second-place cutest costume award in the family category for their Mario-inspired costumes.
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- Samson Proulx and Audrey Teller won the most original costume award in the family category for dressing as the phantom and Christine from the broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera.
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- Landon, Rachel and Casey Watson won second place in the most original division in the family costume category for their Spiderman-themed outfits.
Judge’s choice:
Wyatt Noell and Jaxson Williams
Smithfield Police Chief Alonzo Howell, a costume contest judge, joined in the photo of judge’s choice award winners Wyatt Noell and Jaxson Williams, who dressed as a police officer and convict.
Smithfield’s and Isle of Wight County’s shared tourism department announced on Nov. 1 the winners of the annual Main Street scarecrow contest.
The Smithfield Ice Cream Parlor received the highest number of votes at the Visitor’s Center, followed by the When Pigs Fly Magic Happens store in second place and the Something Special thrift store in third.
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- A.J. Pope of Zuni receives candy from Rob and Christopher Dewing, who turned their home on Grace Street into a circus tent for Halloween.
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- Coya Gholston, Marll Holmes and Sincere Gholston, all of Smithfield, walk down Main Street in search of candy.
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- Rett and Betty Smith of Smithfield trick-or-treat down Thomas Street in costume.
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- Carter and Lindsey Sachs dressed as Wednesday and Morticia Addams, respectively. With them are Justin and Kinley Sachs, all of Smithfield.
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- Sandra Gibbs hands candy to Madison Carpenter of Smithfield outside the Beyond Main store on Main Street. In front is Madison’s brother, Hudson Carpenter.
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- Roy McKinney of Smithfield, Elijah Styers of Windsor and Sophia Donato, visiting from Tampa, Florida, trick-or-treat together on Main Street.
