The Cornerstone Center for the Arts was overrun by dinosaurs, witches, princesses, cowboys and more Thursday night.
Hundreds of children gathered for the annual community Halloween party. The Colonnade Room was transformed into "Halloweenville," where families and children of all ages enjoyed free activities, games, food, prizes and candy.
Carly Acree, a senior women's and gender studies major and education assistant at Cornerstone, was in charge of marketing, advertising and finding volunteers for the event.
"Cornerstone is the only place I know of around Muncie that provides free, family-friendly events like these," Acree said. "I think it's great for our community to take advantage of these opportunities."
Working at Cornerstone has given Acree the opportunity to meet members of the community she wouldn't have met otherwise and learn about Muncie.
Moments before the event opened to the public, Robby Tompkins, interim president and CEO at Cornerstone; his staff; and volunteers made last-minute adjustments.
"It's going to get pretty crazy in here soon," Tompkins said. "This entire room will be filled before you know it."
Tompkins' expectations proved true, as crowds of costumed kids and parents began to flood into the room. Tompkins said this year's turnout was larger than ever before. After just an hour, staff members made an additional trip to the grocery after completely running out of the 300 hot dogs bought for the occasion as well as the supply of popcorn.
The children enjoyed activities such as face painting, a craft table where they made construction paper pumpkins and cats, beanbag toss, a cupcake walk, bingo and story time by "Capt. Jack Sparrow."
As one of Cornerstone's more popular annual events, a lot of planning and preparation is put into the two-hour party. Staff and volunteers gathered supplies, food and decorations months in advance; marketed and advertised the event to local businesses and media outlets; and set up the Colonnade Room Thursday morning until the event began at 4 p.m.
As a nonprofit organization, Cornerstone relies on donations and volunteer work from the Muncie community. Decorations are saved from year to year to reduce costs and most party favors are donated.
Staff members and volunteers dressed to resemble the 101 Dalmatians, wearing white shirts with black spots and face paint. A staff member dressed as Cruella de Vil went around asking kids if they had seen her puppies.
Ball State students played a big role in the party's success by volunteering to work game and activity stations.
Sophomore public relations major Sharisse Horel was excited to give her time by working the "Cupcake Walk," a version of musical chairs.
"I stay on campus a lot so it's nice to get out in the community every once in a while and work with Muncie kids and families," she said.
Most student volunteers are required to obtain community hours for classes, organizations or fraternities and sororities. At this year's Halloween party, Cornerstone received help from Student Voluntary Services, the Public Relations Society of America, ESA and sororities. Student volunteers agreed that working the community Halloween party was a great way to get needed community hours.
Janis Wright, a Muncie resident and mother of three, started coming to the community Halloween party four years ago, when her son was 3 years old.
"It's great for the kids. They always have so much fun here," Wright said. "And it doesn't hurt that's it's free and they provide a meal."
Wright said she also attends other events at Cornerstone such as the "Candy Cane Lane" Christmas party and the end-of-season carnival events for her daughter's dance classes at Cornerstone.
As the evening came to an end, children began to gather up their goodies and volunteers began cleaning up after a fun-filled night.
"I think everyone had a great time, especially the kids," Tompkins said. "And that's what makes this so worth while, seeing the smiles on kids' faces. That's why we even put on events such as these."
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