Local children celebrate this Halloween with Portales businesses

Jesi and Jace Smith's bright blue hair stood out amongst the knife-wielding ghosts, football players, Spider-Mans and princesses walking Tuesday afternoon in downtown Portales.

As Dr. Suess' Thing 1 and Thing 2, the siblings walked among local businesses collecting sweet treats, while participating in Portales' Safe Trick or Treat event, which involved 33 downtown businesses.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Jesi Smith, 8, trick-or-treated at Portales Ace Hardware with the rest of his family as Dr. Suess characters' Thing 1, Thing 2 and the infamous Cat in the Hat.

"It's great to have it in the daytime and I'm thankful these businesses provide that safe place," said mother and Portales teacher Danna Smith, who was dressed as The Cat in the Hat to complete the look. "My son plays Thing 2 really well all year."

The Smiths weren't the only children with crazy hair, 11-year-old Samantha Bartl's love for Greek mythology inspired her Halloween costume as Medusa.

"I love seeing the creative costumes and of course the candy," Bartl said.

Adyson Millerd, 5, dashed for the candy bowl at City Hall, hoping there would be Skittles in there. She dressed as a Jets cheerleader and her 7-year-old brother Colin dressed as Tim Tebow.

"I dressed like him because I like the Jets," Colin said. "But my favorite part of Halloween is when I get candy."

The Millerds were trick-or-treating with friends and they said this is one of the events that provides that sense of community in Portales.

"I also got to do Trunk or Treat at my grandma's church," said Ethan Schumpert, a friend of the Millerds.

Here's how other children enjoyed the Portales event and the Halloween holiday:

• Anastajea Sena (left), 6, dressed as a kitty and Jude Navarrete, 7, dressed as Dracula. The two disagreed on what Halloween is all about.

"It's about the fun," Sena said. "No, it definitely about the candy," Navarrete said.

• Vanessa Lucero, 11, who dressed as a show girl, said she did not wear her true Halloween costume because she didn't want to give it away early. She will be Raggedy Ann.

"We love Halloween, so we don't tell anyone what we're going to be," said her mother, Mickie Gonzales.

Vanessa collected 79 pieces of candy at the event.

• Kencee Rowland, 7, dressed as a football player because she is in her second year of flag football. Her mother, Stacey, said Kencee wants to play tackle football but is too young for the time being.

"It's fun because you get to run a lot," Kencee said of football.

• This Halloween is 6-month-old Conner Young's first one to participate in and he dressed as a duck for the event.

"He's enthralled with everything," said his mother, Stephanie, laughing. "Everyone keeps handing him suckers and he's OK with that."

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Jesi Smith, 8, trick-or-treated at Portales Ace Hardware with the rest of his family as Dr. Suess characters' Thing 1, Thing 2 and the infamous Cat in the Hat.

"We're new to the area, so it's fantastic they did this," she added, saying the family came from Twin Falls, Idaho.