There’ll be little ghouls and goblins invading Drakes Branch on Saturday for good reason — in celebration of the first annual Drakes Branch Halloween Festival on Main Street.

“They’ve been having it for the last few years, but this is the first year that it will be a Halloween festival,” said Bea King, an organizer of the event, who works with the Charlotte County Historical and Genealogical Society.

For years, the event has been held as a fall festival, she said.

“And next year, we’re going to add a haunted house and a haunted forest,” King said.

The event, free and open to the public, is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

“We’re going to shut the streets off. It’s going to be all up and down Main Street,” she said.

The event will feature music, the Farmer’s Market, candy for trick or treaters, a Halloween costume contest (for those 12 years old and younger), face painting, and food and craft vendors.

Downtown businesses will hand out candy, King said.

The event is being hosted by the town of Drakes Branch, and is sponsored by the county’s historical society, Drakes Branch Museum, Newcomb’s Auto Repair and Drakes Branch Volunteer Fire Department.

Hayrides will be offered at the event, along with inflatables, corn hole, bowling game and a ring toss game.

“And we have all kinds of children’s activities,” King said.

Food offerings include ice cream, funnel cakes and many church bake sales.

“We’ve got a lot going on,” King added. “Support your local people, your local Farmer’s Market, your local organizations. Come out and have some fun.”

She said she hopes visitors will also stop in to the Charlotte County Historical and Genealogical Society and Drakes Branch Museum to discover how the town came to be.

“The first adult person that stops by our booth and can tell me how Drake’s got the name ‘Ducks Puddle’ will receive a ‘Rich Indeed’ book and 18 and under will receive a Duck’s Puddle Christmas ornament, Duck’s Puddle Christmas card and $20.00,” King said.