Homer’s Halloween Hootenanny Is a Sickeningly Good Time

McKENZIE (October 28) — On an otherwise cold and rainy night, Hometown Health Clinic stirred up some Halloween fun Tuesday with Homer’s Halloween Hootenanny — named after Homer, the clinic’s canine mascot.

The Halloween event was inside the Hometown Health’s main McKenzie clinic at 205A Hospital Drive. Clinic staff, dressed in a mix of scrubs and various Halloween costumes, decorated the clinic’s rooms and halls in Halloween themes from a vampire’s lair to the halls of Hogwarts. As attendees walked through the clinic, staff were spaced out and ready to hand out candy.

One hallway led attendees to one very special guest: Homer himself. Hometown Health Clinic’s mascot stood waiting to hand out candy and take photos with the visiting children.

Once attendees finished walking through the halls, they arrived at a room with games including a rope toss, “pin a pumpkin” and more.

“We want to have a place for the community to come and know that we’re here for more than just their healthcare needs. We’re a family, and we love our community,” said Ellen Pruitt, marketing and human resources director at Hometown Health Clinic.

Pruitt said they decided on the name “Homer’s ‘Very Not Too Scary’ Halloween Hootenanny” because they wanted the event to be accessible to all ages and all fear levels.

“We didn’t want kids to be scared to come through [the clinic],” said Pruitt, “but we do have some spooks. For the most part, this is more of a fun house set-up instead of a scary, haunted house.”

Homer’s Halloween Hootenanny attracted a large number of families ready to trick-or-treat and play some Halloween games. Hometown Health Clinic staff left their decorations up until November 1 so patients could enjoy the clinic’s Halloween spirit until the holiday passed.