In one of the county's great autumnal

traditions, nearly 2,500 elementary school students will

march through Fayetteville Friday morning for the

annual Pumpkin Walk.

The walk runs from 9 a.m.-noon and Fayetteville Police Capt. Harold Simmons advises commuters

to avoid the area around the courthouse Friday

morning.

"There's really not many alternate routes

available through the center of town. The best route would

be up Jimmy Mayfield Drive to Jeff Davis," he said.

Students from Fayetteville Elementary, East Fayette Elementary, North Fayette Elementary,

Spring Hill Elementary, the First United Methodist

Church of Fayetteville preschool, the Fayetteville First Baptist Church

preschool, the Joseph Sams School and Lafayette Nursing Home

will march their ghastly-decorated gourds to the center of town.

The walk is one of the most colorful celebrations in the

county as the costumed students bring their creations for display at

the courthouse, Fayetteville City Hall, Heritage Park, the Gazebo

and the Fayette County Administrative Complex at Stonewall

Village.

With the students, teachers and administrators jamming the

historic heart of Fayetteville, Simmons asks drivers to be

extremely careful, and if possible, avoid the area until the

afternoon hours. The police department will be on hand to help traffic

flow through the congested area.

After all the pumpkins are placed at the various

locations, the walk takes on an eerier dimension Friday and

Saturday nights. The pumpkins will be lit at dusk on both days and the

light cast from 2,500 pumpkins gives Fayetteville a perfect feeling

for Halloween.

In conjunction with the walk, Fayetteville's Main Street

program is hosting downtown's "Trick or Treat on Main Street"

at 3 p.m. Friday. The event continues until 6 p.m. and children

in costume will receive a special treat. Children can look for

the specially marked paper pumpkins marked "Trick or Treat on

Main Street" in store windows and receive free goodies from local

businesses.

Participating merchants in this year's celebration include

All Paging and Cellular, Antique Gallery of Fayette, Attic

Treasures, City Cafe, Fayette Collectibles, Fayetteville Fire and Police

Department, Finely Scarlett's, Heart of Country, Holiday Inn

Express, Parajon's Payton Upholstery, Photography by Rene

Victor Bidez, R and D Dollhouses, Stuff 'n Such and Town Square

Jewelers.

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