Roaming Homer was a bit more frightful, and cute, on Monday. The city took to Halloween this year like a child’s hand takes towards a bowl full of candy — as if it belongs there.
Paul Banks Elementary School hosted its annual Halloween Parade, and students got the opportunity to show off their creative alter-egos with parents cheering them on.
Selma Johnson, a first grader at Paul Banks Elementary, dressed up as a squirrel this year. “What I like about Halloween is I get candy,” Selma said. “I like Twix.”
Anika Sundheim, a second grader, said she dressed up as a doctor. No ordinary doctor, however. Her vampire teeth brought an edge to the costume. Hopefully they don’t get stuck in her favorite candy, Milk Duds, when she is doing her favorite Halloween activity. “I like trick or treating and seeing all the costumes,” she said.
Corey Isenhour, a kindergartner who spelled his name out eloquently when asked by a reporter, dressed up as Venom this year. When asked who Venom is, he replied he is a “bad guy,” from Spiderman. Corey felt “good” wearing the costume, nevertheless. His favorite candy is Reese’s Pieces.
When the parade ended kids hurried back to their classrooms for yummy snacks or to play another round of Halloween Bingo.
After school at 4 p.m., families were invited to join the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center’s first Pioneer Avenue Trick-or-Treat event, wherein 45 businesses participated.
Two University of Alaska Kachemak Bay Campus students, Alyssum Veldstra and Debbie Weisser, passed out candy at a table in front of the campus. A carefully crafted scarecrow loomed behind them, which had been erected as part of the chamber’s first annual Scarecrow Contest.
Monday was the end of a long Halloween weekend. The first annual Fall Festival, sponsored by the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, took place on Sunday, Oct. 30. The community participated in an Animal Costume Contest, kids pumpkin painting, and face painting.
Others were terrified as they braved the Summit Physical Therapy Haunted House and walk through the woods. Additionally, approximately 250 costume-clad Homerites took part in the Zombie 5K Run and 1K Candy Walk.
As the day came to a close and a half-crescent moon lit up the night sky, children all around Homer eagerly pleaded with their parents for just one more piece of their hard-earned Halloween treasure. But with all the exciting events which took place this past weekend, there are many potential memories that extend beyond sweets.
Even so, sweets are pretty important, and kids love candy.
A witch, sumo wrestler, and space cadet go on the search for candy during the Homer Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Pioneer Avenue Trick-or-Treat event on Monday, Oct. 31 in Homer, Alaska.
Alyssum Veldstra and Debbie Weisser, students at the University of Alaska Kachemak Bay Campus, pass out candy during the Homer Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Pioneer Avenue Trick-or-Treat event on Monday, Oct. 31 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke / Homer News)
Pikachu and Link enjoy the free sugar during the Homer Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Pioneer Avenue Trick-or-Treat event on Monday, Oct. 31 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke / Homer News)
Kids show of their candy during the Homer Chamber of Commerce’s first annual Pioneer Avenue Trick-or-Treat event on Monday, Oct. 31 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke / Homer News)
