A HALLOWEEN "SPOOK"TACULAR ON NORTH GROVE STREET

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Dianne Watson's house on North Grove Street was the Halloween epi-center
for more than 600 trick-or-treaters on Friday night.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- More than 600 people flocked to Dianne Watson's front porch on North Grove Street for a "Happy Halloween" and The Halloween Song from a woman with a booming "Happy Halloween" and to receive candy from a woman with a big heart.

For more than 20 years, the Watson house has been the epi-center of Halloween night, where ghosts and goblins of all ages.

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Dianne Watson has greeted trick-or-treaters outside her
North Grove Street residence since 1987.

Watson said she started giving out candy many years ago in response to a Halloween safety call, where people were told to take their candy to hospitals to get treats inspected.

"That made me mad," said Watson. "I decided to do this because I knew this would be one place that would be safe for children of all ages to come and trick-or-treat."

Watson said the tradition of handing out candy started about 21 years ago.

"We have a lot of fun doing this," said Watson. "Last year, I had Halloween screamers."

According to Watson's daughter, Julia Rose, usually the family starts decorating the outside of her mom's residence around Oct. 1.

"Last year, we had more than 500 people," said Rose. "There's only one year I can remember we had only about 300 people."

Rose's daughter, Amanda Woodruff, stood at the front of the residence, greeting the many trick-or-treaters dressed as a bar wench.

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Photos by Jon Mayhew/TCS
(Left photo) A lighted cat was one of many lighted Halloween decorations adorning Dianne Watson's residence. (Right photo) Amanda Woodruff greeted Halloween-goers with a big smile.

The 16-year-old was supposed to be playing with the Lincolnton High School marching band during Friday night High School Football.

However, she was at her grandmother's house.

"I told them I wanted to he here," said Woodruff.

See more Halloween pictures on the main page of www.thecarolinascoop.com.

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