Portsmouth, OH — Families flocked to the Vern Riffe School (VRS) on Thursday, Oct. 24, for the
Scioto County Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) Falloween Festival, marking the event's largest turnout to
date. Held under clear skies and comfortable weather, this year’s festival featured activities for
all ages and brought the community together for an evening of fall-themed fun.
Highlights included a traditional, old-fashioned carnival atmosphere complete with new and
traditional games and attractions, a haunted sensory hallway set up in the basement, a cake-walk in
one of the classrooms, a lively Trunk-or-Treat, and a costume contest. Local organizations like
Shawnee State University, law enforcement, EMTs, and fire departments joined in on the festivities,
The success of this year’s Falloween Festival highlighted the community’s commitment to supporting
students with developmental disabilities and bringing people together in meaningful ways. Attendees
praised the event for its warm atmosphere and inclusivity, where both children and adults could
enjoy the activities regardless of their age or abilities.
Vern Riffe School Teacher, Sam Vetter, enthusiastically stated, “This was the biggest and best
Fall-o- ween to date! This year we were fortunate to bring in 60 cake donations for the cake walk
and two donated cakes to raffle off. We started our cake walk at 5pm and had to end it early at
6:30. We flew through our cakes! Last year my classroom, room 109 started up an in-house food
pantry with the canned good/ non-perishable items brought in from the event. The total count for
this year was 350 items! We are excited to see the pantry continue to grow throughout the year.” In
addition, proceeds from the event will benefit the Vern Riffe School PTO, Special Olympics, and the
Direct Service Professionals Group.
The haunted sensory hallway, a unique addition tailored to engage participants with
sensory-friendly features, was a standout for many families. The organizers designed it with
adaptive lights, sounds, and textures to ensure it was accessible to all, including individuals who
might typically avoid traditional haunted houses. Meanwhile, the cake-walk kept guests moving and
cheering as they tried their luck to win baked treats donated by local volunteers.
The Trunk-or-Treat was another favorite, as costumed participants went car-to-car collecting candy
and treats from decorated vehicles, each managed by community groups and organizations. The
involvement of local police, fire, and EMT departments added an extra layer of excitement, with
emergency vehicles on display for kids to explore and learn more about safety. “We are overwhelmed
and grateful to all our community partners who help make our annual Falloween Festival so much fun.
Our entire community comes together to celebrate the season.” stated Theresa Rowland, Outreach
Coordinator.
Organizers are already looking forward to next year, encouraged by the community’s enthusiasm and
the success of recent events. With this year’s record turnout, the Falloween Festival at Vern Riffe
School continues to grow as a beloved fall tradition in Scioto County, showing how a community can
come
together to make a difference and create joyful memories for families across the area.