halloween

Grafton Hill is an old Dayton's neighborhood, known for its tree-lined streets and beautifully preserved homes. The Dayton Art Institute, the Dayton Masonic Center, and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church are within the Grafton Hill boundaries. In 1984, one of the neighbors who lived on Stoddard Avenue came up with the idea to put jack-o-lanterns on the hill next to the Art Institute and the Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow began with 30 carved pumpkins. Over the years, the number of grew with volunteer groups carving pumpkins and just recently corporate sponsorships along with volunteers. This year's Pumpkin Glow was held on Monday and Tuesday of this week and had over 1000 jack-o-lanterns. So much creativity! As people walk around the hill we heard comments, "Did you see this one?", "Go Dayton Flyers!", "That snake!". Little kids were so excited to see super heroes and cartoon characters they recognized. So much creativity.

Theme in Yellow

I spot the hills 

With yellow balls in autumn. 

I light the prairie cornfields 

Orange and tawny gold clusters 

And I am called pumpkins. 

On the last of October 

When dusk is fallen 

Children join hands 

And circle round me 

Singing ghost songs 

And love to the harvest moon; 

I am a jack-o’-lantern 

With terrible teeth 

And the children know 

I am fooling.

~ Carl Sandburg