Oakland has been quiet this past week as organizations and groups are all getting ready for their big Halloween or fall events on Oct. 25.
We have events in the Oakland area beginning at 9 a.m. and running through 7 p.m., so you can hit them all or choose among them! I’m not sure when Halloween became just a big event, but today it is the third most popular holiday in surveys behind Christmas and Thanksgiving and second most popular behind Christmas to celebrate and decorate for.
The most popular trick or treat candy goes to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with other chocolate candies following, then treats like Skittles and Sour Patch Kids. The most popular kids’ costumes for 2025 come from the movie “KPops Demon Hunters.” But thankfully, witches and vampires are still popular as well. I will recognize witches and vampires, but, sorry kids, I won’t know who you are in anything “KPops.”
You can start your Saturday (Oct. 25) at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery with their Halloween at the Hatchery which runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., then head over to Cossar State Park for a Halloween event that runs from 4-7 p.m. and also make it to Trunk or Treat in downtown Oakland which runs from 5-7 p.m.
The Oakland Beautification Committee has created a very welcoming Fall Welcome display at the corner of Highway 51 and Hickory Street right by our new grocery store, the Farmacy Marketplace. I’m not sure of everyone who helped, but thanks go to Janet Ross Caulder for donating and delivering the large round hay bale and to Mayor Stephanie Patterson and OBC Chair Alisha Bland for overseeing the project.
Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets from a Chamber board member or other local businesses in Oakland. The raffle proceeds all go to our Oakland Volunteer Fire Department to help with the purchase of much-needed safety equipment. Tickets will be sold until Nov. 9 when the drawing will be held in conjunction with a kid-friendly event at the fire department from 2-3 p.m. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25. Lots of great prizes. The fire department is our first responder in the area for fire and safety. If you have ever considered volunteering, there are spots for you on the fire department team. Contact Fire Chief Rich Ross at 662-934-0743 or stop by Town Hall and leave your contact information. Having this fire department also keeps your homeowners’ insurance more affordable.
November dates to put on your calendar include Nov. 1, Oakland Day and Christmas Open House at Chamber member Bloomin Hills in Tillatoba; Nov. 15 is Oakland Clean-Up day from 7-11 a.m.; and Nov. 30 is the Bloomin Hills Tree Lighting.
Congratulations to the good folks in Charleston for another successful Gateway to the Delta Festival. These events take a tremendous amount of work for months, if not years, to develop and deliver. None of this could happen without a strong volunteer base. Communities need volunteers to plan, do, check, and adjust — some of it is coordination, some of it is muscle — but it is all needed. Find out what your Chamber or other groups need and offer some time and energy.
Governor Tate Reeves issued a proclamation declaring the third week of October as Chamber of Commerce Week. In the proclamation, it says there are 88 local chambers of commerce in the state who promote their communities for quality growth and development.
That is exactly what the Oakland Area Chamber is doing. I know that every town in Yalobusha County has a Chamber, so you can easily find somewhere to offer your help! (Pick us!)
One of the things our Oakland Area Chamber has sought to do at least annually is listen to what our citizens believe we need to be working on. We have had annual listening sessions as well as a strategic planning session which was open to the public for their ideas and concerns.
That plan was officially adopted by both the Chamber Board and the Town Board last fall. We pride ourselves on working together in Oakland and this is a great example of that. The five areas that we are focused on include Downtown Revitalization, Tourism and Recreation, Informed Citizenry, Neglected and Blighted Properties, and Housing. There are many steps under each one of those, of course, but it is exciting to work that plan and make things happen! If you are curious or have ideas or experience that could help, let us know! Contact Chamber Executive Director Sue Donohue Smith at 662-852-1110 or me (Linda Ross Aldy) by email to oaklandareachamber@gmail.com
I am not a realtor, but I am a matchmaker, so if you have a property or need a property in Oakland, let me know! I know of one that is available now that I think would be awesome for an auction house!
I can see it now — Saturday auctions and a dream sideline for someone who wants a fun side business or maybe a retiree who is bored or needs additional income. Let me know and I’ll get you connected!