Officials believe the Oxford Civic Center hosted one of its largest crowds ever during the 2026 PARD Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 31, 2026, under the direction of PARD recreation and events manager Pam Harris and PARD recreation and events manager Ashley Bias.

Bias said the initial count for the day was over 2,000 children, who took advantage of the totally free event, funded in part by the Hallo-Wheels contest held the previous weekend.

The Civic Center floor, as well as the hallways leading to it, remained packed for the entire three-hour run of the carnival as people lined up for candy, Halloween bling, games, bounce house fun, hayrides, hot dogs, and pizza slices.

“I really think this is the largest crowd we have ever had,” said PARD director Don Hudson. “Hats off to our staff, who did an outstanding job, as they always do. This is what our department is about – fun and fellowship. Although this is for the children, you see the parents and grandparents here enjoying themselves, too.”

Visitors were first greeted by members of the Oxford Police Department and the Oxford Fire Department, where kids were treated to candy, souvenirs, and pictures with their officers and respective mascots.

The gym floor became a canopy of shapes and colors, with the creative costumes worn by both kids and adults. More than 60 of those kids left with prizes for their creativity after entering one of the five age levels of the costume contest, and many families left with a prize of a special memory as they posed for souvenir selfies to remember the fun of the day.

Oxford Health Systems transformed one corner of the gymnasium into the Halloween Castle Experience, a new fun opportunity tunneling visitors into rooms filled with cobwebs, skeletons, ghosts, and topped by a large red dragon.

“I think this is a great event for the community,” said Mayor Alton Craft. “All the city staff and first responders who took part have done a tremendous job. It is an amazing group, and I am really proud of them.”