NORTH SMITHFIELD – Pumpkins piled high in their house seemed to smile in the sparkling sunshine, pleased at the bustling annual Spooky Spirits Night at Goodwin Brothers Farm, on Saturday’s 70 degree day. Sounds ranging from Sinatra to Halloween favorites blared from a speaker and mingled with conversations and the laughter of children at the family-friendly event that’s become a town tradition.
Perusing the pleased-looking crowd gathered at his family’s multi-generational farm, Bob Goodwin deemed the day, “fantastic.” His farm hosts the yearly event that featured face-painting, food trucks, hayrides, and more, “for the love of it and the kids.” The children, when they’re grown, will remember the good times they are having today, small business owner and farmer Goodwin said.
Like Goodwin, Clayton Wright, a fourth-generation farmer at Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery, was driving a tractor on Saturday. Wright said he likes the small town flavor of Spooky Spirits Night at Goodwin’s Farm, and the opportunity to “give back to the people,” and wanted everyone to “have fun, especially the kids.”
Wright said he learned to drive a tractor when he was just nine years old, and plenty of children and adults were lined up ready for him to drive them on a hayride trek through field and forest, that when night arose would turn pitch black and become inhabited by a few ghouls.
One “ghoul” already on duty, or perhaps just enjoying the daylight, Sydnee Gauvin, is an aspiring special effects makeup artist. Of Spooky Spirits Night, Gauvin of North Smithfield said, “I think it’s fun to do.”
The sun was still in the sky as Ricky Chen and Kiki Wen of Westborough, Mass., who recently arrived in the U.S. from Taiwan, were enjoying Goodwin Brothers Farm with youngsters Sindy, 6, and Bing, 2. Chen said the acreage of the Goodwin farm was greater than that of farms he knew back home. Wen said she was impressed by that too, as well as by the colorful array of abundant fruits and flowers on display.
Sahil Kumar and Lindsey Kumar of North Smithfield were strolling through the sun-drenched parking lot full of festivities.
“Love it; it’s cute; it’s perfect for kids,” said Sahil of Spooky Spirits Night, adding that he liked the “vibe.”
The event is “really fun,” said Lindsey Kumar.
Scout Master Russ Wright of Boy Scout Troop 1139 Slatersville, was at his group’s table explaining that they “like to take every opportunity to represent our troop in our community, to spread the message of scouting, raise money, and show our strength toward community, and recruit newcomers.”
Austin Sawyer of North Smithfield is on his way in a few days into another kind of patriotic troop: the United States Navy.
He, with family and friends, was taking in the summer-like weather and festive “spirit(s)” of the day.
His father, John Sawyer said of the event, “I think it’s great to have something free. It brings families together and the community. And that’s what our family is all about,” said Sawyer, who appeared, as did the whole group, proud of the new Navy recruit.
That family tradition continued at Spooky Spirits Night, bringing fun and community to the bucolic town of North Smithfield.
