Celina's downtown square turns into a Halloween festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the city stages Beware! of the Square from 4 to 9 p.m.
Admission is free. The city's event page promises trick-or-treating, a haunted manor, a free Kid Zone, a pumpkin decorating contest and more than 60 market and curiosity vendors, with an old-fashioned, vintage Halloween theme.
Cirque du Beware!
Circus acts are back on the program under the Cirque du Beware! banner, with balancing, juggling, aerial work, a Wheel of Death and fire performances. Shows are scheduled from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and 8:15 to 9 p.m.
Pumpkin carver Jon Neill, whom the city bills as a Halloween Wars champion, is returning after creating a carving for the 2025 festival.
Pumpkins before the party
Two lead-up events give residents a chance to prepare entries for the pumpkin contest, which takes real or fake pumpkins that are carved, painted or decorated. Entries are dropped off before the festival, displayed during it, and judged by crowd vote for prizes.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 3 to 5 p.m.: The Celina Public Library hosts a pumpkin painting party at the Downtown Celina Pavilion, 141 N. Ohio St. The first 100 participants get a free faux pumpkin from the Friends of the Library, and paint and decorations are provided while supplies last.
- Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m.: Celina Parks and Recreation holds a pumpkin painting and carving night at the Ralph O'Dell Senior Center. Pumpkins and supplies are provided; registration is required.