By LISA HOOVER

POTSDAM -- Fright Night will take place downtown again this year, with the first block of Market Street closed to traffic on Thursday, Oct. 25 beginning around 6 p.m.

Highlights will include a dance performance, a haunted house, cookie decorating, and other goodies

Once the road is closed to traffic, costumed children will have three hours to tour downtown, stopping at local businesses enjoy games and activities or to trick-or-treat.

Step It Out Dance Studio will kick start the event with a dance performance at 6:30 p.m. in the blocked off section of Market Street.

Great Northern Printing’s popular haunted house will return again this year, according to Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marylee Ballou. This year’s house will have a creepy clown school theme.

Also returning is Evans & White Ace Hardware’s treasure hunt. Scoopuccino's, Outer Market Street, will offer free cookie decorating and a $1 make-your-own sundae activity for children under 12, as well as a patio treasure hunt.

Fright Night has been a Halloween staple in the Potsdam area for many years. “We have posters from way back in the 90s,” said Ballou. The event started as a shopping night to highlight area businesses, but has since evolved into a community even more focused on fun activities for children, Ballou explained.

Activities and games will be available at Bicknell Appliance & Home Interiors, 46 Market St. (“Terrifying Sofa of Surprises”); Isle of You, 17 Market St. (“Pin the Nose on Pumpkin”); Jazzercise, 22 Market St. (free dance/fitness class at 6:10 p.m.); Little Italy, 30 Market St. (candy corn count); MBA Club, Clarkson, Market St. (pumpkin toss, pumpkin cake); Misty Hollow, 22 Market St. (face painting); Potsdam Chamber, 24 Market St. (Halloween bingo); St. Lawrence Arts Council, 51 Market St. (Halloween crafts); The Alchemistress, 17 Maple St. (temporary tattoos); The Bagelry, 9 Market St. (cookie decorating); Theta Phi Alpha Sorority (decorate a treat bag); University Bookstore, 39 Market St. (book reading); Walgreens, 173 Market St. (scariest costume contest, photo shoot).

Treats, goodies and sales will be available at Argent's, 32 Market St.; Center for Sight, 12 Main St.; First Crush, 32 Market St.; Good Times Party Store, 57 Market St.; Key Club & K-Kids of Potsdam Kiwanis Club, Market St. (selling glow in the dark items); Maple Run Emporium, 49 Market St.; Northern Music, 29 Market St. (free movie); Oddballs, 17 Maple St.; Piercings by Tat2Pauly, 16 Market St. (T-Shirt giveaway, jewelry sale); Pinto, Mucenski, Hooper, VanHouse, & Co., 42 Market St.; Potsdam IGA, 27 Elm St.; Potsdam Police Department, 38 Main St.; SLC Reality Check, in front of Roxy Theater; Today's Hair & Day Spa, 36 Market St.; Twisted Turtle, 16 Market St.

The street will reopen to traffic around 9 p.m.  A full list of participants can be viewed here.