Lisa Carnley is managing editor of the Lampasas Dispatch Record. Halloween was one of her favorite activities when her kids were little, and here's hoping Squared Silly will revive that. Halloween is returning to Courtyard Square. And that's the way it ought to be.

Everyone talks about wanting a fun and safe way for youngsters to spend the spookiest of holidays, and that is the best way I can think of.

For years, residents were the ones who got a treat when kids, dressed in their holiday finery, traipsed around Courtyard Square to collect candy and other goodies for Halloween.

How much more fun could it be than to watch a passel of pumpkins, the latest super heroes brandishing their capes, princesses with shiny tiaras, and cartoon characters made popular by television shows?

Even the tiniest goblins participated, thanks to parents' creativity with costumes and strollers. We know there's no way these little ones could eat the candy treats, so there was an ulterior motive for parents to participate after all!

Halloween on Courtyard Square was so much fun when my kids were young. They couldn't wait to get home from school, get into their costumes and head downtown to show off their attire, see what their friends were wearing, collect candy and take part in a costume contest.

I can remember when my older son, Jason, before he was even 10 years old, became fascinated with Pee Wee Herman (that was when Pee Wee's Playhouse had a whole other meaning than when he made the news more recently).

Everyone commented that Jason looked so much like Pee Wee that it seemed natural to dress him that way for Halloween.

And he was the hit of the fest -- even taking the grand prize at the costume contest. From his tooshort pants to his red bow tie, it was like looking at Pee Wee in miniature form.

Though we never were able to top that year's costume, Jason came back a year or so later and took the top prize again -- for his scarecrow outfit on that occasion.

In one of his final attempts, Jason came as a bag of garbage -- complete with a trash can lid for a hat, and items (we shall not mention) glued to and stuffed inside the bag. He didn't win. I don't know why. Some people just have no sense of humor.

I can't wait for this year's Oct. 31 "Squared Silly" events around the downtown bandstand in Lampasas. With hayrides, candy for kids (yay!), bounce houses, a prize walk, face-painting and other fun activities sponsored by Vision Lampasas!, it should bring even more life back to Courtyard Square. And it could use a shot in the arm once in awhile.

Good job, Vision Lampasas! Bringing back a much-missed tradition can only reinforce to residents what they already know: Lampasas cares about its kids.

I can't wait to see the lions, fairies, dragons, turtles, princesses and other costumed kids. And as for the candy, I guess I might have to make the ultimate sacrifice and sample some of it just to be sure it is OK for children.