WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will host the free program “Saints, Spooks, and Sweets: The Story of Halloween,” presented by historian John Maietta from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, October 26.
Each October brings a curious mix of carved pumpkins, costumed kids, and candy corn to the American scene. All contribute to the popular image of Halloween, a holiday unique to the English-speaking world.
This program examines the ancient roots of Halloween, combining pagan harvest festivities with a solemn Christian commemoration of the dead. We’ll also explore the modern expansion of Halloween themes – both scary and silly – into the realms of mass media, live entertainment, and commercial marketing.
For many years, Maietta, a native of Williamsport, operated a successful freelance business in the Harrisburg area while simultaneously serving as a public affairs officer with the Pennsylvania National Guard. Starting in 2002, he completed numerous active-duty assignments with the U.S. Army, including long-term deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany, and Iraq. In 2014, he received a master’s degree in applied history from Shippensburg University. He is currently on the adjunct faculty at York College of Pennsylvania. He is also a popular presenter of public lectures on various cultural and historical topics.
This is a walk-in program for teens and adults in the Lowry Room on the third floor of the Welch Children’s Wing. For more information, visit https://jvbrown.libcal.com/event/12556648.
Check out more programs at calendar.jvbrown.edu or by calling 570-326-0536.
This program is one of the many ways Pennsylvania Public Libraries support the PA Forward Initiative by providing civic and social literacy opportunities for learning.
The James V. Brown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours. Walk-in passport services are available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is the place to go to learn, connect and grow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. The library has more than 225,000 visitors in a year and circulates a half-million items annually. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.
