Winslow Township combines fire safety and Halloween fun into one event — the Halloween and Fire Prevention Festival
Imagine eating an apple cider donut and drinking cider while learning how to stop, drop and roll.
Winslow Township educates its residents on fire safety a little differently than most towns. It combines fire safety and its annual Halloween festival into one fun-filled, educational event — the Halloween and Fire Prevention Festival. It will take place Saturday, Oct. 15 at Miller’s Farm in Berlin from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, Oct. 22. It will be the second year in a row the township has combined the two activities.
“We did 16 years of doing fire prevention for the fire department and (Winslow) Township always did their Halloween festival,” Winslow Township Fire Chief Marc Rigberg said. “Sometimes they would fall in same weekend, and with everybody being busy in life, we were kind of competing together in some aspects. Our previous fire chief approached the township and there were talks. Everyone agreed to try to do it on one weekend together. It was extremely successful and well attended, to the part where it was almost overwhelming. Building on that success, we’re continuing that.”
It was so successful, a few thousand people attended. The fire department will have all kinds of safety tips and demonstrations geared toward the whole family like it did last year.
“We’ll have things like learning how to stop, drop and roll, a squirt the house for kids, a vehicle rescue demonstration and a general display of fire apparatus and equipment,” Rigberg said.
Children will be able to get in the fire truck for a photo opportunity, and some of the firefighters will help the kids build scarecrows. It is recommended you bring a long sleeve shirt and pants if you want to make a scarecrow. There will also be a general display of fire safety education materials for residents to take home.
In addition, there will be plenty of food and drinks to enjoy while learning about fire safety. Halloween candy, hot dogs, soft pretzels, water ice, donuts and apple cider are on the menu. Live music will be played throughout the day, and families can go on hayrides and pick pumpkins. New this year are crafters and vendors who will be selling their merchandise.
Rigberg said Winslow Township has a solid fire program, and they love interacting with the community, especially on a day such as this one.
“Our firefighters basically reach out to the community,” he said. “I think it’s highly important to the community with regard to just another avenue as a public servant to support the community in various educational aspects. It’s very important for the township to come together for this event.”
