Hundreds participate in annual Halloween event in Pahrump

Hundreds of trick-or-treaters and their parents descended on Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza Saturday night during the fourth annual Halloween event on Saturday night.

Before the doors opened at 6 p.m., a line of Halloween costume-clad participants of all ages stretched outside the Pahrump dealership. Organizers had to control the flow of people at the entrance, as people were coming and leaving.

Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza put on event in conjunction with Pahrump Valley High School and several clubs. Several sponsors, including Pahrump Assemblyman James Oscarson and Nye County Assessor Sheree Stringer also supported the event.

Those in attendance could get their part of 65,000 pieces of candy, go through a haunted house and participate in the many activities that were offered at the venue.

Richard Bennett, commercial manager at Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza, said last year the location had 3,000 kids come through in the three hours of the event, and organizers were expecting to see an increase this year.

“We’ve grown every year exponentially. It’s got bigger and bigger every year,” Bennett said.

Greg Mier, general manager of the Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza, said Pahrump Valley High School clubs set up the majority of the booths and games for participants.

“We have some golfing, putting games, we have some ring toss, we have candy pawn, bowling, bean bag toss, and a really really cool haunted house,” Mier said.

Mary Smith, a junior at the Pahrump Valley High School, and a member of the Key Club, who was dressed up as a Pikachu, said costumes are her favorite part of the event.

“I got it at Spirit Halloween on Blue Diamond in Vegas. My grandma helped me,” Smith said about her costume.

Teresa Wilson of Las Vegas found out about the event through people that she was staying in the Lakeside Casino RV Resort with.

“Something for my grandchildren,” Wilson said when asked about what brought her to the event.

Wilson said she had to prepare costumes on short notice, and the woman that she had met at the RV park did the makeup for her grandchildren.

Nevada Realty employee Sheryl Hunter, who was greeting trick-or-treaters near the haunted house, was standing next to Home Bridge’s booth.

“They are so excited to go through the haunted house and collect their goods,” Hunter said. “Manners, I’m so impressed with the manners this year.”

Overlooking the crowded dealership, Hunter said the Pahrump community is growing “really fast.”

“This is probably twice the number of people we had last year,” Hunter said. “It’s nice to see everybody coming out and taking part in this.”

Tuesday night marked the official Halloween night in Pahrump.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77