Pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch.
Photo by Allison Thompson
With the pumpkin-laden holiday around the corner, students and faculty can celebrate with on-campus activities, volunteer opportunities at local churches, area Halloween events and, of course, enough candy to last the rest of the year.
The Adams Hall Harvest Festival is held every Halloween and encourages faculty and staff to bring their kids to trick-or-treat in Adams.
“If the residents are participating, they put an orange pumpkin picture on their door so the kids know which doors to knock at,” Adams Hall Residence DirectorChaili Trentham said. “It’s a great opportunity for our residents to serve the faculty and staff on this campus.”
The tradition has been in place for at least 20 years and allows for creativity of the residents to decorate their doors and make it fun for the faculty and staff who bring their children to trick-or-treat, as well as a celebrate fall.
Pumpkins upon pumpkins
Photo by Allison Thompson
The other on-campus event is the newly named Fall Flannel Fest, which will take place on Trinity Lawn at 8 p.m. Thursday.
“We are promoting Fall Flannel Fest as an entirely new event this year,” said Robyn Hardy, the assistant resident advisor of Trinity Hall. “There will be some activities and traditions that carry over from last year, but it will look different from previous Oct. 31 rez life events.”
Local happenings include the Halloween Carnival in Finkbiner Park in Glendora, which will feature game booths, prizes, a costume contest and plenty of food. Tickets for games start at 50 cents.
The city of Duarte is also holding a carnival called Halloween Howl & Fun Zone in Royal Oaks Park. Attendees will enjoy a costume contest, parade, carnival games, music, refreshments and a fun zone.
There are also many opportunities for students to serve and volunteer throughout the community.
Christ’s Church of the Valley is holding its annual Trunk or Treat. The free event begins with games and food at 4 p.m. while candy-filled trunks open up at 6 p.m. Students can help provide candy and set up the games.
Pomona First Baptist is also holding a Hallelujah party from 6 to 8 p.m. and will have five different positions for students and other adults who want to serve.
Junior English major Morgan Ortiz plans to spend her Halloween volunteering at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre’s family event, OctoberBlast. Where they will have games, a bounce house and hot dogs and other snacks.
“I am the youth ministry intern, and I’m going to be volunteering and working with the kids at the 2nd annual OctoberBlast on Halloween day,” said Ortiz. “I am so excited to help out at this event because it is a great chance for the church to get to know the community better through fun events such as this.”
For those who seek thrills on the day of ghouls, Knott’s Berry Farm holds a “Haunt” event from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Actors put on a horror show throughout the night and trick you into mazes and haunted houses, tickets sell for $62 a person. The fourth annual Los Angeles Haunted Hayride also runs on Halloween from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. located at the Griffith Park old zoo for $25.