The Great Jack-O-Lantern Sail

By Rhonda Moziy

Halloween, a time for frolic and excitement, a time to enjoy autumn leaves at the peak of their splendor. Belmont Lake State Park was the setting for NACK’s Third Annual Great Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Sail.

The bright sunny day on Saturday, October 24, 2015 was met with all kinds of Halloween themed activities. The park was surrounded with pumpkins, skeletons, haystack mazes, balloons, monsters on stilts, children in costumes, activity booths, games and more.

We set up our Safe Paddling with NACK stamp station. Our kayaks were displayed with skeleton heads, spider webs, cemetery fences, and black lanterns.   Wooden kayak simulators with paddles were eagerly awaiting visitors and little kayakers. We were ready.

Upon entrance into the event, children were given stamper sheets. Their mission was to complete a Trick-or-Treat Scavenger Hunt by getting a stamp at each station. Completion of these sheets would allow them to enter into a Trick-or-Treat Raffle Drawing.

Crowds of kids in costumes ran from station to station participating in the many activities. They meandered around a Hay Maze, daringly entered into a spooky den, took guesses at the big candy corn jar, tried their luck with Bean Bag Toss; all while keeping an eye out for Frankenstein who was roaming around on big stilts. Safe Paddling with NACK and climbing aboard big red fire trucks with the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company was only part of the festivities.

While Matt, Buddy, Mike, Bob, Ann, Chris, Alan, Steve and John took turns running the kayak simulation stations; I took my place at the wooden picnic table waiting and eager to greet our little guests.

I was the official stamper and presenter of the treats (decorated Halloween pencils and chocolate kit Kat bars). We were visited by Superheroes of all kinds, Ninja turtles, lady bugs, bumble bees, princesses, witches, a cupcake, a Christmas tree, Dracula, and even Wilbur the pig took time away from Charlotte’s web to stop by.

My hand became fixed in a steady up and down motion as I stamped little yellow papers. The never-ending line of eager kayakers kept up with excitement. To add to the enjoyment, Alan put one of our decorated kayaks on wheels, and ran in circles giving on-land kayak rides to the kids.

Meanwhile, down at the waterfront lake house, folks of Belmont Lake State Park carefully arranged 50 artfully carved pumpkins meticulously on individual small black square rafts. Each pumpkin individually stood out on their own stadium linked together waiting to be displayed illuminating as gleaming lights in the night.

Once darkness fell, crowds of kids and their parents lined the shoreline. Our dedicated NACKERS geared up for the Great Tow. Kayakers were ready and eager to be tied up to their rafts of pumpkins. One by one, kayakers took off with pumpkins illuminating the night while onlookers cheered. The pumpkins were methodically displayed as they circled the lake for all to see.

After all kayakers came safely back, the eager owners of the pumpkins waited patiently to claim their carved masterpieces. They were excited to know that their pumpkins were famous displays of the night. While the evening came to a close, our smiles spoke the pleasures of all the hard work that was put into the day. A complete salutation that it was all worth it. We can’t wait to do it all again next year.

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