Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks & Recreation Commission’s 13th annual Spooktacular Extravaganza brought Halloween activities to downtown West Broadway, including trick-or-treating at local businesses, carnival games, a street dance party and costume events. The free gathering continued the commission’s annual downtown tradition, welcoming families and pets to the business district.
The event took place on West Broadway Avenue, according to The Daily Times. Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks & Rec holds Spooktacular downtown on the Friday before Halloween; a 2025 photo gallery documented the 12th installment in the same stretch of downtown.
Downtown’s Gathering-Place Role
The Downtown Maryville Alliance describes its mission as revitalizing downtown Maryville as a gathering place. In a 2016 accreditation announcement, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said Maryville’s Tennessee Main Street district encompassed more than 40 historic commercial buildings downtown.
Costumes, Candy and a Skeleton in a Kilt
Businesses along the route served as treat stops. The Daily Times reported that staff at Wells Tavern helped trick-or-treaters pick candy from a kilted skeleton coffin.
The commission’s event page describes trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, a street dance party and carnival games as central parts of Spooktacular. The schedule also included a Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest, bringing pets and their owners into the celebration, according to parksrec.com.
Howl-O-Ween Contest and a Rooftop Showcase
The event preview listed a $5 entry fee per dog and awards in categories including Best in Show, Most Original, Pet & Human Look-Alike, Scariest, Cutest and Funniest. Prizes included gift cards sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus, according to parksrec.com.
A human Costume Showcase was also on the schedule, planned for 7 p.m. on the top level of the Maryville Municipal Parking Garage. Dogs attending were required to stay leashed and be comfortable around other dogs and people, a rule organizers outlined on the Parks & Rec website's event page.
Rain Plan Stayed on the Shelf
Organizers had a contingency plan in case of rain, with some activities slated to move under cover to the parking garage or be modified if wet weather arrived. The event went ahead without using that plan.
The free event has become a fixture for families in Blount County. Its downtown format brings together business trick-or-treating and scheduled activities, with costumes adding to the Halloween atmosphere.
