ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9611010077
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N! EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN GRIESSMAYER STAFF WRITER
TONIGHT, when the sun has set and the moon is sending eerie shadows floating across your lawn, don't be surprised to find more than just a raven gently rapping, rapping at your chamber door.
This year, you can expect to see a wide variety of ghouls, superheroes and - scariest of all - politicians knocking on doors and begging for candy.
Costumes ranging from frightening demons and Darth Vaders to beautiful Barbies and princesses are popular with trick-or-treaters in the Roanoke Valley. Individuality is definitely in; everybody dressing as the same Power Ranger is out.
In other words, why eat the same old candy corn when you can have a custom-made Halloween cake all your own?
Irene Timko, owner of Dance Etc. in Vinton, says kids bought a variety of costumes this year. She sold, among others, a shark and a Scooby Doo to two boys and a fancy sequined senorita outfit to a little girl.
Of course, there's always the tried and true costumes.
"Batman and Dracula are always favorites for boys," Timko said. "And anything with long, flowing dresses is popular with girls."
At stores such as Kmart and Wal-Mart, character costumes like Barbie and Superman fly off the shelves. Larger stores are also good for picking up those last-minute gory accessories: plastic axes and butcher knives, colorful fright wigs, makeup and, of course, fake blood.
This being an election year, rubber masks of the presidential candidates are hot items, even for kids. So don't be confused if you see tiny Bill Clintons and Bob Doles on your front porch, debating the pros and cons of a Snickers bar. Remember: Actual presidential candidates are much taller than 3-foot-6.
For more creative types - or people who can't justify spending 50 bucks on a premade costume - a homemade disguise is the answer. While this may create images of your best white sheets with holes cut in them ("Look, Mommy. I'm a ghost!"), be prepared for some pretty inventive designs.
According to Delaine Caldwell, manager of the Piece Goods Shop at Towers Mall, residents who answer their doors can expect to see some homemade Batman and dinosaur outfits tonight, and even a giant M&M or two.
"Animals are also very popular, especially for younger kids," she said. "We have a lot of people who do kitty-cats, puppies and lions. So we sell a lot of felt and fake fur."
Caldwell said moms and dads choose to make their kids' costumes themselves so they'll have something unique.
"People like to put their own touch on a costume," she said. "There may be 50 lions running around out there, but each one will be different."
Nine-year-old Audrey Hall, a fourth-grader at Highland Park Learning Center, agrees. She made most of her cat costume herself because she wanted to use her imagination.
"I don't want to be the same old cat as everyone else," she said. "I want to make my costume unique in its own way.
"Halloween's no fun when everyone is dressed as the same thing."
Other Highland Park students - clowns, hippies, mud men, witches and even a torturer - are excited about the annual opportunity to load up on Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers and Reese's cups.
They're looking forward to finding "that guy who always gives out king-size Kit Kat bars." Or hunting for the greatest Halloween treasure of all, the Holy Grail of trick-or-treating: the unattended candy bowl.
So tonight when you hear tapping - as of someone gently rapping, rapping - at your chamber door, have the treats ready. And be ready to see some spooky, wild and elaborate costumes.
Asked what people could expect to hear from the monsters, ghosts and witches at their doors, several children at the Highland Park school said in unison:
"Trick or treat, smell my feet,
Give me something good to eat!"
And what will happen if people don't produce treats?
"If you don't, I don't care,
I'll pull down your underwear!"
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ERIC BRADY STAFF Tre Cantu, 16 months, admiresby CNBhimself as a tiger as his cousin, Lexi Griffin, 2, looks on. The two
were trying on Halloween costumes at Dance Etc. in Vinton. color
2. Lexi Griffin is a pair of shoes away from becoming an angel.
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