Ukrainian family experiences first Halloween

MT. PLEASANT — This year’s Witch Way to Main event welcomed guests from far off as a new Ukrainian family, which arrived just two months ago, experienced their first Halloween.

“Today is the 26th day of October, and the Halloween party here is a really cool party,” Oleg Karakash documented on his TikTok account family_from_ukraine.

Karakash documents his family’s new experiences in the United States on this account, including their time at Witch Way to Main last Thursday.

“It is such a cool celebration,” he said as he explored downtown Mt. Pleasant with his wife Yulia and daughter Dasha. “We don’t have that in Ukraine.”

“Here the kids participate, the parents participate, and it is so much fun,” Oleg said.

While Thursday came with a gray sky and rain, Main Street Mt. Pleasant was determined to host the event, “rain or shine.”

Thankfully, just before things got started, the rain let up and trick-or-treaters enjoyed a fun, dry evening around downtown Mt. Pleasant as Halloween weekend began.

Kicking the evening off with a costume contest, kids from preschool-fifth grade and groups showed off their creativity at Central Park with a zombie hoard, Sherk and friends, princesses, a claw machine, and many Wednesday Addams.

Then the crowd set out around the square where businesses on the square decorated their windows and shops to hand out candy and other businesses brought out tables to join in the fun.

Oleg and his family especially enjoyed walking around downtown and seeing how many businesses are located in the area.

“We had two months here and we didn’t know that there is a tattoo salon and the place where they make beer,” he said. “We got the opportunity to just walk and see what we have.”

As they made their way around, they came across Doctor Kent Metcalf who kept warm in a furry costume as he represented Family Medicine of Mt. Pleasant at the event.

They saw Jefferson Antique Mall and Perfectly Vintage’s mannequins dressed as witches handing out candy.

They could even run into Mt. Pleasant Police Department officers and Henry County Sheriffs deputies as they handed out stickers and treats.

Many other miniature police officers patrolled the square for Witch Way to Main for candy, too.

The Iowa State Extension Office kept the evening light as they handed out glow sticks to the small trick-or-treaters like Dasha and encouraged them to “Glow with 4-H.”

“This is probably the happiest day for Dasha,” Oleg said.

Dasha, dressed in a pink fairy costume with wings and a flower crown, was especially excited for the candy because they don’t keep them at home.

“We don’t have them at all at home,” he said. “But now everybody shares with her chocolates and candies and she’s happy.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com