Fall finally found us! Now that the weather decided to cooperate with the time of year, we can finally pull out all that plaid and pumpkin spice some spent all year pining for. Although the spring and summer months make up much of the activity in town, the cooler months in autumn house endless possibilities for last-minute fun before the cold weather moves in.
Possibly the most notable event that takes place in Hot Springs during October is the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Under the direction of Hot Springs native Jen Gerber, the 28th annual festival features over 60 noteworthy documentaries. Ironically enough, the filmmaker grew up without a television in her home. However, a passion for storytelling still managed to take root and she found herself on set and then, eventually, behind the camera. Gerber sat down with us this month to not only share her own life story but give everyone at HER and our readers an exclusive look at this year's festival.
This year, we are including an extensive guide to all the spooktacular events put on by the community to celebrate Halloween this year. Easily one of the HER staff's favorite holidays, Halloween is best at bringing out the fun for the entire family ... and heaping servings of our favorite sweet treats. From our wonderful first responders at Boo with a Badge to the witches flying with Garland County Relay for Life, you will find no lack of safe, family friendly ways to celebrate Halloween. Use our guide as your map when you hit the streets this year in search of trick-or-treat treasure troves.
Of course, Halloween would not be complete without a proper disguise. All the best-dressed ghouls in the Spa City go to the Hot Springy Dingy for their fashionable garb. For four decades, Hannah Mills has crafted an array of different costumes and the occasional special order for the community. A self-taught seamstress, Mills and her husband built up a thriving business operating year-round. Now, they are gearing up for retirement. Mills sat down with HER this month to reflect on 40 years of business and the future of the town's cherished costume shop.
As always, we hope that you enjoy reading this issue of HER just as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. Before you know it, relatives from near and far will be knocking at the door and local turkeys will be on red alert. Try and relax just a little before then.
Until next month,
the HER staff
Go Magazine on 10/15/2019