Halloween: scary, homemade, creative, fun

Some families from Admiral Heights gathered at the entrance to the neighborhood on Oct. 17 to get in the mood for Halloween by making scarecrows and playing games.

Some children cuddled baby scarecrows in their arms. Children and adults adorned pumpkin, burlap, can and mask heads with ballcaps, cowboy hats, and witch hats. Families and friends worked as teams to stuff oodles of hay into flannel shirts, bib overalls, baby clothing, and jeans.

Stakes were pounded into the hay bodies so they could stand precariously either on their own or propped against trees or seated in baby carriages. Some hay bodies remained lying on the ground.

Games were played before and after the hay bodies were displayed for the satisfaction of all. Children played mini-golf and ring toss. Some attempted to use the golf clubs as mini-baseball bats or racquets. Some jumped off hay bales; others jumped into loose hay; some did both. Hay flew everywhere to the delight of the children. Gathering all the loose hay up and tossing it into wheelbarrows was fun too.

It wasn’t like past Halloweens. The Halloween event was held outside in a different location where families were able to space out to their comfort level. More attention was paid to masks, sanitizers and goodie bags. As a result, it was safer while remaining as much fun and maybe even more.

“It was nice to be able to give the kids in the neighborhood some Halloween fun this year,” said Elizabeth “Lizzie” Coelho, the event organizer. “My kids were sad about missing out on the neighborhood party we had held in Germantown Elementary in past years, but they had a great time last weekend.”

“We had a great time and thought it was well run and very safe, said Keren Lotfi who has helped organize Halloween and Easter events for the Admiral Heights Improvement Association in the past.

Many thanks go to Coelho for organizing this event.