By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 29, 2020) Despite coronavirus limiting social interactions, an array of Halloween fun and frights are in store this Friday and Saturday in Ocean Pines.

Searching for some sense of normalcy, while also providing annual chocolate and candy allotments for kids, Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks staff members conjured up the Trunk or Treat event.

Recreation Supervisor Brittany Jarman said Trunk or Treat, which is scheduled for Oct. 30 in White Horse Park starting at 5:30 p.m., would also help to fill the void left by the cancellation of this year’s Fall Festival.

“It gives the kids of Ocean Pines something to do and we’re doing it the night before Halloween,”

she said.

During Trunk or Treat the woods in White Horse Park will be filled with spookily decked out vehicles passing out candy.

Jarman said to minimize direct interactions children could collect treats from Halloween-themed car trunks or truck beds.

“Sometimes the candy might not be in the trunk, they might have it on the ground in front,” she said. “Whoever decorates their trunk, they do get to stay and dress up in a costume.”

Earlier this month Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks sponsored virtual pumpkin carving and Halloween costume contests with entries due by Oct. 25.

“We’re going to post all of the stuff up on a Facebook page album and people can vote for their favorite one by ‘liking’ the photo,” she said.

Votes for both costume and pumpkin entries can be cast from Oct. 26 through Oct. 30 at noon with winners unveiled just prior to the Trunk or Treat celebration.

To avoid having all the fun wrap up before Oct. 31, Ocean Pines is sponsoring a “Build Your Own Scarecrow” contest on Halloween morning from 10 a.m. to noon.

The winning scarecrow will be selected at the end of the event with a bag chock full of autumn goodies awarded to the design team.

The festivities also coincide with the weekly Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market, whose vendors will embrace the ghoulish occasion with stand decorations and costumes.

White Horse Park also marks the end point for the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural “Spook The Pines” community parade that takes place on Oct. 31 from noon to 2 p.m.

Dozens of frighteningly decorated classic rides and Jeeps, all lead by the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department engine, will begin a thrill inducing neighborhood crawl starting at Cathell Road before ending in White Horse Park.

Chamber Executive Director Kerrie Bunting said prizes would be awarded for the best decorated rides.

Covid-19 safety mandates prevent participants from tossing candy or other items out to bystanders.

Bunting also cautioned parade vehicle owners to be aware of the 10-foot clearance at the Route 90 underpass, which would restrict passage for oversized rides or decorations.

While registration is available on parade day, with the $15 fee required in cash, organizers encourage sign-up before then.

For more information, visit oceanpineschamber.org/ or call 410-641-5306.

For more information or questions about other events, contact the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-641-7052, email rec@oceanpines.org, or visit www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/recreation-parks.