BLADENBORO — The 10th anniversary of the Beast Fest promises to be a freakishly good time.

“The Beast Fest brings people closer together, and they get to meet friends they haven’t seen in a while,” said Beast Fest organizer Claudette Guy. “It’s just a lot of fun.”

To celebrate the festival’s 10th year, organizers decided to ramp things up a little bit by extending to celebration to cover two days.

Events will kick off Friday night with kiddie rides by Fun Times Amusement, a variety of street vendors, and a street dance with the band Honey Don’t from 7 to 10 p.m. The stringband/Americana/folk rock band out of Oregon hit the top 40 National Americana charts with its debut release in 2009. The album was the number two most played album on Colorado Radio and one of five nominees in the bluegrass category for Westword Magazine’s 2010 Showcase.

Saturday’s activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K Fun Run. Registration for the event is $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. Registration forms are available online, or they may be picked up at Bladenboro Hardware, Healthworks in Elizabethtown, or the Bladenboro Town Hall. Forms may be dropped off at Bladenboro Hardware. Registration will also take place on site beginning at 8 a.m.

Don Chase from WKML will be the day’s emcee in the First Citizen’s parking lot. Milton Bullock, formerly of The Platters, and Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot will be providing live entertainment. Bullock, a North Carolina native affectionally called “The Golden Platter,” continues to delight audiences with the Motown and Doo-Wop music for which the Platters achieved fame. The Myrtle Beach-based Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot will be bringing soul, country, reggae, ’50s and ’60s music, and funk, along with some of the most current chart toppers.

A classic and late model car show will delight auto enthusiasts from 8 a.m. to noon, with awards at 3 p.m. Prizes will be given for “best of” categories such as Ford and Chevy, Mopar, Corvette, truck, and best in show. Registration for entrants is $25.

The Beast Fest holds plenty to do for folks looking for Halloween activities. A children can win cash prizes by donning their best costume and, new this year, pets get in on the action, too. With a goal of raising awareness about animal abuse while raising money for injured and neglected animals, the Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest allows owners to enter their precious pooches in full regalia for a chance to win goodies for Fido. Pets will be judged for costume creativity and uniqueness, temperament, and talent. Additional requirements and information can be found on the registration form on the Boost the ‘Boro web site. All of the profits will be donated to the Bladen County Animal Shelter.

Children will be able to get a head start on the candy stash with the festival’s Trunk or Treat event. For the candy extravaganza, a Bladenboro church blocks off an entire section of the street and passes out sweet treats to kids under 12.

“This event is really something to see and was very popular last year for the kids,” reads Boost the Boro’s website, describing the Trunk or Treat. “This year, it is expected to draw an even larger crowd, and we hope you will take an opportunity to carry your children through this production.”

Additional information, including the legend of the Beast of Bladenboro, photos, videos, and forms, may be found at boosttheboro.org/beast-festival.html.

The Beast Fest will take place in Bladenboro Friday, Oct. 28, from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_bullock.jpg

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_HoneyDon-tBarn.jpg

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_smokinhotnewestpicJune16copy.jpg

By Chrysta Carroll

ccarroll@civitasmedia.com