For a ghastly good time, head to Southeast Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocates’ annual Scare at the Fair fundraiser.
The family-friendly event will be Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Seward County Fairgrounds’ Ag Pavilion from 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. The first half-hour is reserved for children who require accommodations.
More than 20 community businesses will hand out candy, fidget toys and more at Scare at the Fair booths. Apply to run a booth at the event at bit.ly/3J0bDq8 before Monday, Oct. 20.
Attendees may also play carnival-style games, such as ring toss, and eat free popcorn. There will be a free meal of hot dogs and chips, and an ice cream truck from What’s the Scoop? will be present.
Southeast Nebraska CASA Executive Director Shelby Pedersen, who also attends the event with her family, said she loves to see families come together and have a fun, worry-free night at Scare at the Fair.
“It’s a quick, easy way to get some Halloween fun in, and there's no strings attached – you can stay for the 20 minutes that it takes you to walk through the line, or you can stick around longer and play games over and over,” she said. “But, it's also just a way to get out of the house, which I feel like parents need, and it’s a fun place to gather.”
The event is free, but donations upon sign-up are appreciated. QR codes, text lines and money buckets will also collect donations at the event.
The money raised will go toward Southeast Nebraska CASA’s mission to support children in foster care in Seward, Saline, Thayer and Jefferson counties. The organization pairs volunteers with children who are wards of the state or in the foster care system. The volunteer becomes familiar with the child’s situation and advocates for them in their case.
Proceeds will go toward training new volunteers and buying adoption gifts for local children.
“Something else I get out of this event, as the mom of small kids, is supporting the mission and the great work CASA does for other kids in the area,” Brianna Hans of Goehner said.
Pedersen said the event started more than a decade ago. It was originally called “Scare on the Square,” but Southeast Nebraska CASA changed the name several years ago when it moved it to the Ag Pavilion due to weather.
Hundreds of people attend each year, so CASA asks families to reserve a ticket for a specific time to attend at givebutter.com/Z5rQXy. People do not have to come at the exact time they select, but choosing a general time helps spread out attendance and gives vendors a better idea of how many people to expect.
Hans and her husband, Adam, will attend Scare at the Fair with their three young children for the third year in a row this October. She said she always appreciates the chance to learn about local organizations that she had not heard of before at the booths, and she loves watching her kids get excited for the fun.
“They enjoy the trick-or-treating aspect of getting the candy and playing all the games,” she said.
