Lightning McQueen, the Little Mermaid and Spiderman were some of the characters who came out to the recent Halloween Spooktacular event.
The carnival-like Halloween celebration hosted by the Student Activities Board offers children of students and faculty the opportunity to have fun and play games every year.
[/media-credit]“It’s a good place for kids to be if they don’t have a safe place to trick-or-treat,” said Claire Harper, student activities board member.
The free activity attracts between 200 and 400 kids, who come dressed up and ready to have fun.
There was a host of fun things to do for children of all ages.
Children could decorate trick-or-treat candy bags. They could do the ring toss to try and make it around the staffs of a pirate ship. Or they could toss darts at scary fictional characters like dinosaurs and Harry Potter’s Professor Snape.
Many of the booths at the event were sponsored by departments in the Wilkinson Student Center. The Student Employment Office put together the fishing booth, where children could fish for Halloween candy. The Monte L. Bean Museum had the scariest booth, where children could dare to reach their hands inside the cage of a tarantula to grab Halloween goodies.
The most popular attractions were the bounce house and blow-up slide, where children could play to their hearts’ content.
Trina Cupp brings her family to the Spooktacular every year.
“It’s one more reason for the kids to show off their costumes and have fun,” she said.
Cosmo showed up during the night to lead the children in a costume parade around the Terrace so everyone could see their costumes. Then he officiated the costume contest. Brandon Cabrera took first place for best costume as Frankenstein. Andrew Jenkins, 7, won the best homemade costume as a tape dispenser. The Milton family won with the scariest costumes, with each child dressed as ghosts.
Dressing up wasn’t only for kids; many parents donned festive garb and joined in the festivities.
Lia McKnight and Adriana Costa dressed up as a gangster and a fairy, respectively.Their kids were a bumblebee and a ladybug.
“I love Halloween so I dress up every single year,” Costa said.
Glo Kamae, SAB event leader, said the activity is a good opportunity for children to be entertained so their parents can get a break and take a breath.
But perhaps the best thing about the night according to 5-year-old Benjamin Lewis?
“It gives candy,” he said.
