Tricks & treats
Local families celebrated Halloween early at Pennsbury Manor
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
On any given day, men and women in colonial-era garb can be seen throughout the grounds of Pennsbury Manor. But on Sunday, Oct. 22, costumes of a different variety graced William Penn’s former estate. From the frightening Pennywise the dancing clown to movie classics like Yoda and Buzz Lightyear, characters of all sorts made their way along the picturesque pathway for free games, events and of course, candy, at the manor’s eighth annual Tricks and Treats event.
Drawing more than 1,000 people each year, Tricks and Treats has become a community favorite during Bucks County’s spookiest time of the year. And who can blame them? Not only was there a bounty of free candy (and we’re talking the good kind, like Snickers and Reese’s), but kids and adults got the chance to learn some history as well.
Throughout the day, guests were able to join colonial characters like William Penn and the villagers during the witch trial of Margaret Mattson, who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600s. Hostile witnesses surrounded Mattson as they told the “jury” story after story of how she used magic to do awful things like murder their cows and destroy their crops.
As they told their tales, the woman playing Mattson was both amusing and terrifying, lashing out at the witnesses and contorting her face to show her disgust. Throughout the trial, it was hard to decide if she was innocent, guilty or just insane, which added to the fun and mystery of it.
After each witness spoke, the audience had the chance to ask questions of Mattson before deciding her fate. When it was time to vote, an overwhelming majority said “not guilty.” She was free to be on her way, though the witnesses were determined to get a different outcome at a later trial.
Once their brief taste of history was done, the kids participated in various games and activities throughout the manor to get a much more preferred taste of chocolate. In a miniature corn maze located by Penn’s boat, they made their way through a handful of twists and turns, picking up hidden candies as they went. Across the way, a larger-than-life straw horse and carriage held a slide that the kids were able to zoom down.
Further along, kids and adults enjoyed colonial-style games. Though there was nothing modern or technological about them, even the youngest of attendees were determined to come out victorious in the impossible wooden cup and ball game. In pumpkin bowling, guests successfully knocked down tiny skeleton-shaped pins, but the witch hat toss proved to be much more challenging. Large witch hats stood at one end of the field while guests attempted to throw equally large rings over them. Additional activities included a dice game and a hands-on cider making demonstration.
If guests decided to participate in the scarecrow hunt, they had to work a little harder for candy, but received further historical education in the process. Throughout Pennsbury’s grounds, strategically hidden scarecrows were made to look like some of the most infamous figures of the 17th century. These included Penn in his signature blue hat and Mattson in her black dress. After finding all five, guests had to recite the figures’ names to a staff member for a piece of candy.
The event came to an end at 4 p.m. as families trickled back to the parking lot after a day of fall festivities and historical tidbits, their precious bags of candy clutched tightly in hand.
For more information on Pennsbury Manor and upcoming events, visit pennsburymanor.org
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
