On a night for the World Series, children’s Halloween costumes were a hit in this ballpark.
Many of Pine Bluff’s youths enjoyed an early Halloween outing at Taylor Field on Tuesday for its third annual Halloween Carnival. The historic venue wasn’t haunted, but that didn’t stop the little ones from channeling their inner superheroes or other classic characters for a night of food, fun and games with Southeast Arkansas College baseball players.
Taylor Field Manager Jeff Gross felt certain the Halloween Carnival drew its biggest crowd yet.
“The first year we had about 1,400. The second year we had a little over 1,000, maybe 1,100,” Gross said. “But this year, I think we broke that 1,400.”
Those who missed this Halloween Carnival have a second chance to get into the scary spirit. The Pine Bluff Police Department is hosting a Fall Festival from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The clear bag policy will be enforced.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A large reason for turning Taylor Field into Halloween central is encouraging the youths to play baseball or softball. Many kids have never been inside the 84-year-old stadium on East 16th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, Gross said, but it’s where Willie Mays took the field as a Negro Leaguer and President Bill Clinton witnessed a Babe Ruth league national tournament there.
Gross suggested the fall sunset also made for a high turnout, just as the first pitch in the Fall Classic was approaching.
“The weather is the best it’s ever been,” he said. “The first two years, we had to go inside the indoor facility. We lost a lot of kids because it rained and rained, and we still had 1,000. I think because of the great weather and not a whole lot going on, Tuesday turned out to be great.”
Best costume awards went to a boy and girl, true to the Carnival’s form.
Tyriek Turner, 6, won the boys’ award dressed as a Mortal Kombat fighter with a ninja star and sai. Edjuanay Pridgeon, 11, won for her white nurse dress with red lining.
The winners received gift certificates to a local restaurant, but Edjuanay was more in a giving mood.
“I feel proud of myself,” she said of winning. “The boy that didn’t get one was sad because he didn’t get one. I gave it back to him.”
The gift certificate was good for a meal at Chick-fil-A.
“I know it better be free,” Edjuanay said.
Tyriek Turner, 6, channels his inner Mortal Kombat fighter as the winner of the best costume award for boys at Taylor Field’s third annual Halloween Carnival. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Zyon Thomas, as Ghostface, and brother Zayren Thomas, as Super Sonic, get into the Halloween spirit. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Southeast Arkansas College baseball players Ernesto Garcia, a freshman pitcher from Cuba, and Jayren Foster, a sophomore outfielder from the Dominican Republic, encourage a toddler in a bucket game. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
A long line forms just outside Taylor Field for the third annual Halloween Carnival. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Jimmy Wells Jr., Ivyana Wells and Ja’Cion Woods pick up buckets of treats. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)