Following the Glennville downtown Pumpkin Patch event and movie in the park on Saturday, October 8, vandals struck the creative decorations that had been placed there by Luke and Crystal Burkhalter, who sponsored the fun day of fall activities.

“We were so disappointed that teenagers were jumping from the top of the bales of hay, then tearing down the bales of hay, and taking the legs off our large spider. Several were even trying to light the bales of hay on fire,” Luke Burkhalter said.  

However, a video captured the vandalism, and the local police are in the process of identifying the culprits.

Luke and Crystal had even extended their decorations this year, adding bouncy houses to the other items, which include a tractor, face painting, pumpkin painting, sales of pumpkins, and snacks for the children.

“It is simply so discouraging to offer something fun for children in the community and then have undisciplined teenagers try to destroy it.  We usually leave the decorative bales of hay on the site (by the Stage on Barnard), but this year we felt we had to remove them because of the destruction that has already occurred,” Burkhalter said, commenting that this was the first time in four years that vandals had struck the fall decorations.

“We appreciate the response on Saturday of all those who attended our Pumpkin Patch event,” he said.