It's Bill, 11/2/25: Lubec's Halloween
- Desmond Haskell
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A Vintage Pumpkin and Childhood Memories
Where to start? I rescued the vintage tin Halloween pumpkin from my brother, who “borrowed” it from me years ago. It was given to me by our grandparents. My brother’s birthday, October 26, always conjures up Halloween. A wonderful time of year to celebrate a pagan holiday.
We all have countless Halloween memories of every variety, not all the same. Particularly as kids—costume parties at school, Halloween cards, trick or treating door to door with our friends, going to a close neighbor’s house, going to a stranger’s house, being out “late” in the dark, going home to sort the candy with siblings. How much candy did you get? Do you want to trade? Of course, the costumes! Who are you going to be? Who are you?
I think back “then” when adults were benevolent bystanders by the door. “Oh, who is this? Oh, that couldn’t be you!” The grown-ups, who did not have costumes, held out a bowl of candy treats—maybe sipping a concealed adult beverage. Fathers usually not present. Houses were lit up, there was a pumpkin by the door. Or door decoration. Maybe a ghost or skeleton hanging around. Very rarely, some scary music or noises. Halloween night was polite, orderly, fun.
Lubec Gets Spooky
Halloween fever has already taken hold in Lubec. Pumpkins everywhere, inflated lawn decorations, two-story spider webs, orange lights, whole house lighting setting the tone.
Fortunately, we’ll always have kids trick or treating, usually with a parent. Now there are school and neighborhood parties for kids, well supervised. Not like the wild west of my youth.
Halloween has grown up. We adults are taking it over. We don’t buy one pumpkin—we buy many. Not waiting until the week before Halloween but starting in early September with the first truckload. Pumpkins, cornstalks, ghosts, skeletons, blow-ups, decorated lawns, porches, whole houses. We just don’t have a happy face pumpkin anymore.
Now our pumpkins have been surgically transformed into works of art with tea lights. And they are wonderful to behold!
Pumpkin Strolls & Haunted Porches
Last Saturday, the DCC [Downeast Conservatory Council] hosted their 2nd annual Pumpkin Stroll at Mowry Beach. There is a ½ mile boardwalk that starts at the back of the Lubec School parking to Mowry Beach. Over 25 creatively carved lighted pumpkins marked the boardwalk that terminated on the beach with a bonfire and s’mores. Halloween night, Lubec merchants greet Lubec children and parents.
Deb's Porch
Deb has transformed her porch into a Haunted House. Everywhere you look, there are interior and exterior scary decorations. Central in the Haunted House is a BYOB bar to accommodate 50-60 costumed adults Saturday night after Halloween. Also on the same Saturday night, the American Legion has a costumed dance.
The previous Saturday, about 30 little kids were in Deb’s Haunted House and walked through the grounds where ‘spirits” came out of the dark. Apple bobbing, too.
Plenty of Halloween doings in Lubec, everyone having fun and smiling! Trick or Treat!!
