Splish, splash and monster mash!

Hampton’s first Summerween turned out to be a big hit June 21 at the Hampton Community Pool.

“We were looking for something cool and different to do this year, and it’s kind of been a trend happening online — this idea of celebrating Halloween twice a year. So we decided to give it a go,” said Matt Hahn, program and events marketing manager for Hampton’s parks and recreation department.

When picking the date for the themed evening swim, Hahn had no idea what the weather would be like from 7:30 to 10 p.m. June 21.

“We’ve been planning this since, like, last August, and I really think the great turnout has a lot to do with the recent heat wave we’ve been experiencing,” Hahn said.

The pool was packed with residents swimming and enjoying some of the evening’s activities.

“We have a cool little treasure hunt for the kids to do. If they go over to one of three sets of decorations, they will find a riddle. If they solve the riddle, they can go get a piece of candy from the snack shack,” Hahn said.

Under the pavilion, Starla the Storyteller, aka Misty Mator, told children spooky stories about crazy cats and a mean old man.

“I’m a professionally trained actress, and I went to school for theater,” Mator said. “I love performing as Starla because I have children of my own, and I love to watch their emotions fluctuate as I tell the stories.”

Mator attributes her interest in storytelling to her German grandmother who grew up in Hanau, Germany, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm.

“They didn’t have a lot of money so they didn’t have many books, but much of what they did was tell stories. Those stories got passed down for generations, and my grandmother used to tell them to me,” Mator said.

Emily Paranick of Hampton was there listening to Starla with her daughters, Kaylee and Renner.

“It was great. We are members here at the pool so we love to come to the events. Kaylee was so focused on the stories. She was really enjoying it,” Paranick said.

Mator said the whole business side of storytelling started when she was asked to read at her children’s preschool. So she dressed in costume and read to the class and told stories.

The teachers at the school liked her performance so much that they asked her to come back regularly. In exchange for her time, they would discount her children’s tuition. Mator couldn’t pass on the opportunity and has since built storytelling into a successful business.

Adding to the Halloween vibes was DJ Rick Wirth from Life of the Party Productions.

“I’m playing a good mix of summer music and Halloween music. I think it’s a cool idea,” Wirth said.

Wirth regularly deejays events for Hampton, Shaler and other local communities.

“This was great tonight. When Matt Hahn told me about it, I started looking into it, and there are some places that love Halloween so much that they celebrate it twice a year. You’ve heard of Christmas in July — I think this is similar,” Wirth said.

Wirth said Hahn pulled off a nice evening.

“There were people lined up waiting outside to come in at 7:30 p.m.,” Wirth said.

This year’s event went so well that the township likely will do it again next year.

“I think having done it once now and seeing that people are interested, we can take it a little further next year,” Hahn said.

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