By MAUREEN PICHÉ

CANTON – A world of superheroes, Disney characters and assorted scary undead will take over the Village Park Saturday, Oct. 22 at the annual Phantoms in the Park pre-Halloween celebration, sponsored by St. Lawrence University and the Canton Chamber of Commerce.

SLU has taken over as co-sponsor this year, replacing SUNY Canton. Also new this year, Canton Price Chopper is donating cider and donuts and a prize for the new costume category ‘families and phantoms,’ which gives families the option of all dressing as a theme.

Canton Chamber Director Sally Roberson said for the first time, Mike Livingston of DeKalb will be donating pumpkins to decorate the park and for the kids to take home after the event.

Coinciding with the park party, the Canton Day Care is holding a haunted house at the United Helpers Maplewood Campus from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22 and Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29. The cost is $3 per person, all ages welcome.

The events in downtown Canton Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. with the Trick or Treat parade from the Village Park to the downtown merchants, where children will be treated to sweets and other goodies from participating businesses.

Then, the children return to the park for the Halloween costume contest at 2 p.m. There will be prizes for the scariest, most original, funniest, and most patriotic costumes, as well as the costume that most creatively uses recycled materials, and of course the new families and phantoms category.

SLU students will provide refreshments, games and music.

Those who want to help decorate the park should arrive at noon and bring any pumpkins, gourds or corn stalks they may have to spare.

Merchants that want to be on the Trick or Treat parade list may call the chamber office, 386-8255.

Any merchant from outside the village is welcome to set up a table in the park or contact the chamber office to be included at the chamber’s table.

Clean up of the park will begin immediately after the event.