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A drive through Mount Airy's Main Street this week might be a more artful experience than usual.

Window displays that usually hawk goods and tables full of diners have been replaced by fall scenes of scarecrows, haunted woods and happy pumpkins.

It's the second year for the Halloween painting contest, a 1950s tradition in the town that was resurrected by the Mount Airy Lion's Club and downtown merchants last year. For the school competition, first place receives $200 for the program, while second place receives $150.

On Friday afternoon, Urbana High School students gathered in front of Main Street business Ben Gue's Gifts and Collectibles, painting a forest scene on the plated glass.

"We were the only school that did it last year," said art teacher Debbie Winkles. Because of that, her art department won by default.

She said the students had fun, so when asked again to participate again, they agreed. The students are National Art Honor Society members, Winkles said as she carefully swept her paintbrush across the storefront, bony fingers of a threatening skeleton taking shape.

Seniors Sean Guercio and Sofya LaRocca knelt at one end of the three part glass panes in front of the store. Club members pitched in, all drawing different designs, and selected the ones they liked the most, said Sofya as she dipped her paintbrush into a mixture of purple paint in an old hummus container, painting the background to the ghostly forest. "I think they're looking really good," said store owner Ben Gue, watching the forest cover his store's display. "We'll be in the dark for a week."

"Hopefully next year more schools will compete," Gue said. "We build it each year."

Georgia Geisser is the art department chair at Linganore High School. She brought her National Arts Honor Society for their first time in the event.

"This year we're trying to do more community service stuff," she said, saying they were involved in student art exhibits, possibly an edible art show and "Empty Bowls", a grassroots movement to help end hunger

"The kids seem to be good with helping out," she said, adding that any prize money the school wins would probably go towards art scholarships.

Linganore High School senior Michael Rock was one of the students painting under a blue tent set up in front of Laurienzo's Brick Oven Café.

After communicating with Laurienzo's, who had already planned to make a graveyard out of their outdoor dining patio, the group decided to make the background to the courtyard's graveyard.

E-mail Angie Cochrun at acochrun@gazette.net.

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Photos by Bill Ryan/The Gazette

A – Linganore High School seniors Rachel Ackley and Joe Thomas paint Halloween scenes on the windows of Laurienzo's Brick Oven Café in downtown Mount Airy on Friday. The duo decided to paint the backdrop for the restaurant's outdoor "haunted graveyard" display.

B – Julia Robert, a sophomore at Urbana High School, works on her part of a Halloween scene on the windows of Ben Gue's Gifts and Collectibles shop in downtown Mount Airy on Friday.

Info box

Mount Airy celebrates Halloween

Mount Airy Lion's Club Halloween Party

n1 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting

nMount Airy Municipal Parking lot, intersection of Park Avenue and Veterans Lane, Mount Airy

nHalloween costume contest, Tailgate Trick-or-Treat, games, crafts

nWinners will receive trophies and all participants will receive ribbons and goodie bags

nTo pass out candy, set-up begins at 12:30 p.m.

nFor more information, call 301-829-LION

Painting the town