Hot Springs police and other first responders will join forces again today from 5-8 p.m. to offer a completely free and safe option for Halloween with the annual "Boo with a Badge" at the Central Fire Station, 310 Broadway St.
"We'll have Broadway shut down from the 100 block to Olive Street," Hot Springs police Cpl. Joey Williams said Wednesday. "There will be barricades and vehicles in place so there's no traffic risk and obviously, you'll have the law enforcement all there so it's a safe place to be."
In the very beginning, the city's police and fire departments each held separate events for Halloween and the police offering was essentially held in the front parking lot of the police department, Officer 1st Class Omar Cervantes said.
"That was for the first couple of years, but eventually I guess everyone put their heads together and asked 'Why are we doing it separately? Why don't we join together?'" he said.
For several years, police and fire combined their events and over the years others joined in, including LifeNet, and about four years ago they began involving multiple first responders from the city and county into one big event.
"We just get together and have a big block party," Williams said.
Other agencies participating include the Garland County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas State Police, National Park Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Lake Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department, Hot Springs Animal Services, Child Care Aware, the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, and suicide prevention specialists.
Williams noted there will be 15 vendors or tables set up with various activities. The police will have K-9 officers, SWAT team members, the incident command vehicle and the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, on hand.
"All different kinds of vehicles and displays the kids can play on and get into and check out. They can meet all the first responders and, of course, there will be tons of free candy," Williams said. "And you know where the candy came from and that it's safe."
There will also be various characters "dressed up and walking around. I heard Captain America is going to be there," he said, noting he hopes Jack Skeleton, "the big guy on stilts" would be able to make an appearance.
A returning special feature will be Holly's Haunted Hallway inside the fire station, named for Holly Roscoe, who along with her husband, Norman Roscoe, a firefighter, started the spooky feature several years ago. "She passed away from cancer a few years ago and they renamed it Holly's Haunted Hallway in memory of her," Williams said.
He stressed the event wouldn't be possible without "all the first responders working together to make it happen, it's a big team effort, and two, without the community's tremendous support. They donated a lot of money and candy."
He said they spent "just shy of $3,000" on candy and noted, "All that money came from donations. Nothing came from the department's budget or anything. And donations are still coming in. We're going to pick up more candy (Wednesday)."
Cervantes said Walmart, 1601 Albert Pike, set up a candy drive on Oct. 18 at the store with customers donating candy as they came and went. "We were there from noon to about 4 p.m. and got a ton of candy," he said.
Williams said Blue Cross Blue Shield donated 8,500 pieces of candy on Wednesday and Cervantes noted, "We still have people stopping by and dropping off bags of candy at the front desk."
Williams said they had "pretty poor weather" at last year's event, noting, "It was raining and windy with lightning and people still came out. Even with all the rain. I think that's a testament to how the community feels about Boo with a Badge."
He said they had about 6,000 attend last year, but this year the weather should be better. "It's going to be a little chilly, but I don't think that's going to run anybody off. I think we're going to have a good size crowd. I think it will be a great turnout and lots of fun for everyone."
Williams noted there were several churches that held events last year that have told him they plan to come to Boo with a Badge this year instead. "They're coming and bringing candy. They want to help us out and volunteer, hand out candy. They want to participate."
"It's exhausting. It's a lot of work," Cervantes said.
Williams encouraged people to "get there early, park and be patient and just have a good time. There's going to be a lot of people, but it's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be a throw down."
Local on 10/31/2019