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Oct 11, 2009 11:27 pm US/Central
Finding Minnesota: Halloween Capital Of The World
ANOKA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
It's October, which means Halloween decorations are starting to pop up.
Those that have lived in Minnesota for a while have probably heard the city of Anoka referred to as the "Halloween Capital of the World."
This week in Finding Minnesota, WCCO reporter Angela Davis went to Anoka to find out why that is and how the small north metro city earned such an over-the-top title.
Anoka likes to make a big deal out of Halloween with one of the biggest celebrations in the state.
"The parade lasts for about three hours," said Karen George, the Anoka Halloween president. "Forty-thousand people attend every year, and they line the streets, and most of them try to get there early, and set their chairs out."
But how on earth did the city get bragging rights to "Halloween Capital of the World?"
The story goes all the way back to 1920 when an Anoka businessman, named George Green, set out to put an end to teenage pranks on Halloween.
The year before, kids apparently set cows loose in town and covered windows with soap.
"I heard people went out and turned over outhouses there, for mischief. I think in some places they may still do that today, somewhere, in another part of the country. That was the beginning of it, lots of mistakes made by young people," said Ronald Nordin, who's been on the Anoka Halloween Committee for 36 years.
Those mistakes laid the groundwork for what has now become a nearly 90-year-old tradition in Anoka -- a citywide celebration and a big parade down Main Street.
The first one in 1920 is believed to have been the first of its kind in the nation.
And in 1937, it became official. The city got a proclamation from Congress that named Anoka the "Halloween Capital of the World."
The focus has always been on kids, giving them something positive and fun to do at a time of the year when it's cool to be naughty.
Anoka has held its big Halloween celebration every year since 1920 -- with one exception. The city cancelled its festivities in 1942 and 1943, because of World War II.
George, also a former parade participant, has an old family photo that shows three kids in costumes. She wore a skeleton outfit.
"I believe it was 1964," she said. "My sister, who is pictured in the center, is Raggedy Anne. My mother handmade that costume. She was the preschool costume contest winner that year. This is a rich tradition, not just for me, but for families that are new to Anoka in recent years."
The Anoka County historical society has kept track of the Halloween memorabilia over the years. Everything from commemorative buttons to beer cans can be found there.
Instead of spending too much time looking at the past, folks in Anoka are looking forward to another October full of festive events.
This year's Anoka Halloween celebration starts on Wednesday and goes all the way to Oct. 31.
During that time, there are three parades, a haunted house, a 5K run, an Orange-Tie Ball, a medallion hunt and even a wine tasting event.
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