Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Lifestyles

Moonlight Madness provides safe trick-or-treating for area children

Guest Author

The public dressed in their Halloween best Friday to attend the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Moonlight Madness block party downtown on Main Street. Games, activities, and trick-or-treating were from 4-6 p.m.

The Chadron High School’s Student Council and FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America, organized the event’s penny carnival, ugly pickup contest, and costume contest. There were over 30 businesses giving trick-or-treaters candy.

“It’s a way for the community to come in and enjoy Halloween,” said Chadron Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Karyn Snook.

Jeff Cover, 22, senior of Hyannis, helps a girl rope a dummy calf Friday with the Rodeo Club during the Moonlight Madness event on Main Street. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Jeff Cover, 22, senior of Hyannis, helps a girl rope a dummy calf Friday with the Rodeo Club during the Moonlight Madness event on Main Street. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

It offers a way to familiarize yourself with Chadron’s downtown businesses, Snook said, and allows kids safe trick-or-treating options.

Pickups were smashed, spray-painted, and cobweb covered for the Ugly Pickup Contest. The Ugly Pickup Contest had three categories: just plain ugly, beauty among the beasts, and ugly ranch. Each category winner earned $100 cash.

The Costume contest had four age divisions: 0-3, 4-8, 9-14, and 15 and up. Each division winner earned a gift certificate.

 “More people adds to the atmosphere”, Snook said. “She said she appreciated the CSC clubs that helped out.

Eleven CSC clubs and groups volunteered or sponsored this year’s Moonlight Madness. The International Club has volunteered face painting at Moonlight Madness for multiple years. This was Project Strive’s first year at Moonlight Madness, so they teamed up with FBLA.

Project Strive Academic Advisor Kris Koza said Project Strive will probably participate again next year.

The Rodeo Club set up a pumpkin-roping booth.  Rodeo Club members taught kids how to lasso a steer made out of a hay bale, a pumpkin, and two squash for horns.

“It’s a way to give back to the community because the community gives so much,” Rodeo Club member, Amanda Brader, 20, senior of Glenvil said.

Brader said the booth is something to show off what the Rodeo Club does.

Other CSC clubs used Moonlight Madness as a fundraising opportunity. The Men’s and Women’s Ensembles had a large pumpkin that people could guess the weight of for $1. They hope to raise money for a choir trip to Ireland. The NAFME, National Association for Music Educators, sold caramel apples, “boo” suckers, and apple cider to fund a Lincoln conference trip.

Moonlight Madness is annually on the Friday before or the Friday during Halloween.