The City of Troy will celebrate fall on the Square Friday afternoon with the annual Pumpkins Around the Square event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“This is such a fun, safe Halloween event,” said Leigh Anne Windham with the City of Troy. “Most of our downtown businesses will be set up outside on the sidewalk to trick-or-treat with the kids. We will also have other businesses and organizations set up on the square with fun activities and treats.”

Windham said The Messenger has been an integral part of the annual Halloween event since it got started over five years ago.

Stacy Graning, publisher, said the newspaper will once again have the Kids Costume Contest in the Gazebo.

“This event is something we look forward to every year,” Graning said. “The Messenger has been taking photos of children in Halloween costumes for more than a dozen years and we enjoy the tradition. We invite everyone to come downtown, have some fun trick or treating and enjoying everything the Square has to offer.”

In addition to the Kids in Costume contest, other businesses and organizations will be set up around the Square for some early trick or treating and other fun fall festivities.

The City has a busy weekend of events continuing into the weekend with Troy Recycles Day from 8 a.m. to noon in the Lowe’s parking lot for anybody needing to recycle special items such as light bulbs, electronics, old documents and many other items.

Troy will host its second-ever Cruise-In on Saturday, October 27, after a successful showing in the summer.

“We hosted our first-ever Downtown Cruise-In back in June,” Windham said. “We were so excited about the participation. We had 30 vehicles on display on the Square. There was such a great crowd that came out to check out the vehicles and visit with their owners.”

The Cruise-in will go from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local musician Lenny Trawick will perform during the day and there will be an open mic in the evening. Anyone interested in participating in the Cruise-In or open mic can call 334-674-2468.