High Street Haunt Generates Art Supply Donation

I SPY ART SUPPLIES: From left, Audra Ross from Pottstown Community Arts, Michilea Patterson and Valerie Jackson from PEAK and Amanda Finlaw from the Pottstown School District celebrate the donation of art supplies collected during this year's Haunts on High.

Blogger's Note:  The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

It took just four hours for the volunteers at this year's Haunts on High on Oct. 14 to collect a table-full of art supplies for Pottstown Schools.

Volunteers from the Pottstown Community Arts organization collected art supplies from attendees to donate to PEAK’s PA Pre-K Counts classrooms.

“Sometimes art is viewed as a luxury but they are vital supplies for an early learning program,” said Audra Ross, Public Relations Director for Pottstown Community Arts. “Art activities are the building blocks of child development. When we found out the PEAK teachers were in need of those supplies (from Erika of ArtFusion), we knew we had to help.”

The supplies were donated on Friday, Oct. 27. PEAK Coordinator, Valerie Jackson and Community Engagement Coordinator, Michilea Patterson were greeted with several boxes of crayons, markers, colorful construction paper, glue, and much more when they arrived at the Pottstown Community Arts space in the Coventry Mall where they were painting a mural.

“The mural is being painted in a community room next to Hallmark, across from the food court and The Coventry Mall is gifting the space” said Marie Haigh, Founder and President of Pottstown Community Arts. “The mural is the first of six that our group will paint for the Pottstown Regional Public Library. It will go on the Topos Mondial Corporation building behind the library.”

“Pottstown Arts' generosity is a fine example of the importance in community collaborations and relationships,” said Jackson. “With PEAK being mostly grant funded, these donations will be a big help in providing needed resources for our children. I am very thankful for the kind donations and the hard work that went into the art supply drive which will help our children creatively express themselves through various mediums.”

Haunts on High, Fall Arts Walk, Mosaic Garden Party, Art Supply Drive, All in a Pottstown Saturday

Kids enjoy tasty sweets at Beverly's Bakery during last year's Haunts on High

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by event organizers.

Calling all ghosts, goblins, creatures and superheros. 

On Saturday, Oct. 14, visit participating businesses for the 4th annual Haunts On High downtown trick-or-treat. This year, Haunts On High will be held in conjunction with the Fall Art Walk 2017, so kids of all ages can experience a fun, free, creative evening as downtown Pottstown is transformed into its very own arts district with many activities to be enjoyed.

The day will kick-off at 11a.m. at either end of the downtown with free sugar cookie decorating at Beverly’s Pastry, 322 E High St (11a.m. – 1 p.m), Manatawny Green, 71 W High St, for scarecrow stuffing and snacks (11 a.m. through business hours while supplies last), and Pottsgrove Manor, 100 W King St, for tours and colonial crafts (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

One of two Mosaic Community Gardens, this one at 423 Chestnut St.

Participating candy/craft stops on High Street between Evans Street and York Street will be marked between 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (or until store close in a few cases) from Rite Aid, 340 E. High St to Potts & Penn Diner, 80 E High St. 

There will face painting, a professional photo booth by Memory Madness, and a selfie station by PDIDA to commemorate your visit. Bring your own treat bags.

Additionally, Mosaic Community Garden, 423 Chestnut St. will be open 12 to 4 p.m. for their end-of season Harvest Party and perennial exchange; Connections On High Café will be screening a fun Halloween movie where kids and parents can take a rest; and the Carousel at Pottstown will be spinning from 2 to 4 p.m., you can make a day of it with the family.

And that’s only part of the festivities! Play on and admire art inspired hopscotch designs throughout

town by ArtFusion 19464. ArtFusion coordinates the 3rd Art Walk, with art for exhibit and sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m in their brand new facility at the Beech St Factory.

Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St. will be open for tours and exhibit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and you can buy your tickets for a live showing of “The Nerd” at 1 p.m. The Hill School/Boyer Gallery off Beech St. will also be open.

To register for your free Art Walk ticket and info which includes food discounts at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches and Lily’s Grill, visit artfusion19464.org

After you grab your dinner, @107 will be hosting a Film Festival preview from local writer and filmmaker Chad Repko from 7 to 9 p.m. Or for the thrillseekers, visit Pottstown’s own 3-floor haunted attraction at an authentic Masonic temple, Temple of Terror, 20 N Franklin St. 7 p.m. until line ends. Part of your $15 ticket will support local people facing cancer treatment through “Stretch the Ride.”

Parking details: Visitors may make use of street parking or the public parking lots (35 cents per hour) 1. Reading Lot (Hanover Street behind the RR tracks) 2. High & Charlotte Lot 3. King and Evans St. Lot (enter from King St.)

Peak Art Drive

Also, Pottstown Community Arts will host a fall craft table and Art Supply Drive on the 200 block of High St. to benefit PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten). 

Please bring donations of glue sticks, 6-color waterpaint sets, Play-Doh, Fiskar scissors, construction paper, manila drawing paper, crayons, markers, tempera paint, brushes, paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper tubes, and plastic table cloths to Haunts On High, or to ArtFusion. The teachers truly appreciate all your help!

Downtown Pottstown's 'Haunts on High'

Pottstown's "Temple of Terror" opens Friday, Oct. 9 and runs every Friday and Saturday night in October.

If you’re looking for Halloween fun this month, you need look no further than downtown Pottstown.

A variety of local organizations have teamed up to create “Haunts on High,” a month-long calendar of activities that will put a shiver in your step.

It begins with the downtown merchants window decorating contest, which starts on Saturday. Voting

The Pottstown Halloween Parade will be Oct. 28.

begins on Oct. 24.

The Temple of Terror, the haunted attraction in the Masons lodge at the corner of King and North Franklin streets starts Oct. 9 and continues every Friday and Saturday night throughout October.

That attraction, in its third year, is staged by P.O.S.T., which stands for Pottstown Organizations Serving Together and is comprised of the Masons, the Elks, the AMBUCS and the Order of the Eastern Star.

They have joined forces with ArtFusion 19464, which is helping with the window decorating, as is the Pottstown MOMS Club.

On Friday, Oct. 16, a scarecrow contest will be held at the Manatawny Green mini-golf between King and High Streets and the next day, it will hold a workshop on how to build your own.

On Sunday, Oct. 18, the annual Monster Dash 5K run will be held in Riverfront Park, with registration starting at 7:30 a.m.

A example of last year's window decoration.

The YMCA Safehouse Trick or Treat will be held 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

That Friday and Saturday, Manatawny Green will hold its “Spooky Golf” from 6 p.m. until midnight.

The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority is helping to coordinate downtown businesses which will host a “Safe Trick-or-Treat” event on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 12 to 8 p.m.

It will feature face painting, caramel apples, movies and other Halloween fun.

That will also be the day voting begins on the downtown window decorating contest.

Finally, Pottstown’s signature Halloween Parade will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28.