BOO! — The Steubenville Art Association will hold a Paint n’ Sip class, open to the public, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Schuetz Funeral Home in Mingo Junction. The ghosts can be taken home or put on display at the village’s city building for its annual Halloween party. The event planning includes, from left, funeral director Jeff Shuetz, SAA President Judy Schmidt and Mingo Junction Mayor Judy Ruckman. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Autumn decorations are already on display at several local businesses. And before we know it, Halloween will have children knocking on doors saying, “Trick or Treat.”

Although many people have not yet begun to think about the October holiday, one area organization has started making preparations for the spookiest day of the year.

To get ready for the upcoming holiday, members of the Steubenville Art Association have decided to hold a Paint n’ Sip class from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Schuetz Funeral Home in Mingo Junction.

The event has been named the Rest and Paint at Schuetz Funeral Home. Proceeds from the class will benefit Mingo’s Halloween party at Aracoma Park, according to SAA President Judy Schmidt.

Schmidt said Mayor Judy Ruckman plans to hang the art created at the Paint n’ Sip at the city building in the beginning of October. The village will have its own art show and passers-by can view the creative artwork done by its community residents. All area residents are welcome to participate — especially those in Mingo — as the Paint n’ Sip class is open to the public. The cost will be $20.

“We will be painting a cute little ghost with all the Halloween trimmings,” Schmidt stated. “We will have rhinestones, bats, spiders and more, to fancy up our ghost paintings.”

Everything needed to do the painting project will be supplied for each attendee. Participants can take home their ghosts or they can be given to Ruckman to use on display.

One could say the SAA has perhaps gone a little “batty.” That is because it is planning yet another Halloween event inside the Schuetz Funeral Home in the coming week.

The Ghoul Gallery Art Show will be the third show to be held inside a funeral home. Schmidt explained the funeral home’s director, Jeff Schuetz, “has a penchant for art.” He is an honorary member of the SAA and contacts the group once a year, saying, “I need an art show. And make it big.” To which they oblige.

“We made Jeff a member last fall because he does so much for us and loves art,” Schmidt said. “He is not an artist, but we have a few members who aren’t. They just help us however they can.”

The art show’s grand opening will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15. Those interested in attending the Paint-n’ Sip should contact Schuetz at (740) 317-7282 or Schmidt at (740) 424-3835, as it helps to know how many people to plan for in regards to supplies.

The public is invited to attend the art show, which will offer a variety of paintings — not just Halloween-themed works — created by the members of the SAA. Schuetz will serve food and desserts to those attending.

Schmidt thanked the Ohio Arts Council and Gov. Mike DeWine for their support, as the SAA obtained a grant to help in their endeavors.