Text by NAOMI BONEH and TARA KOTHARI
Art by SELENA CAO
Halloween, reanimated HOLIDAY FACES SPOOKY DISTORTIONS
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HROUDED BY ROLLING fog, “Fall is our busiest time of the year a man dances with a skeleton next for all the businesses here, especially visto witches and other costumed itor businesses,” Beeman says. “Whether partygoers as pounding EDM you’re an independent artist, a musician, plays in the background. The excited one of the community organizations that spectators — Palo Alto residents — move raises money — all of these groups rely on to visit various makeshift booths with on the festival for revenue generation. It mini-exhibits, passing by lanky towers [the cancellation] is going to have a maof jack-o-lanterns and festive attendants jor impact on the full economy here.” handing out giant candy bars. Many are devastated that the memThese festivities, paired with the im- orable events at the festival — in particmensely long lines, make up the typical ular, the Great Pumpkin Parade and 10k Halloween scene in front of former Apple Pumpkin Run — as well as the worldCEO Steve Jobs’ house. Every year, the class art displays, music and food will performances, displays and lavish good- cease. However, Beeman says that the ies draw crowds of Palo Alto residents on festival’s board of directors is actively Halloween night to Jobs’ and other Sil- fundraising to donate to nonprofits and icon Valley figures’ make up for part of houses. the revenue lost. However, due to I'm just hoping that ... COVID-19 regula- we can give them [the Spooky at school tions, children and For children in other Halloween kids] something they elementary school, enthusiasts will be can remember.” Halloween represents missing out on these a particularly thrill— BRIAN CARILLI, Palo Alto resident traditional dazzling ing opportunity to celebrations. Health ofshow off costumes and ficials in the Bay Area stated in mid-Sep- devour candy to their heart’s content — tember that trick-or-treating is “strongly and to their arteries’ dismay. One of the discouraged,” citing difficulties with so- many schools with special Halloween cial distancing and the increased like- celebrations is El Carmelo Elementary lihood of large gatherings. Halloween School, where students excitedly gather events, including carnivals and parties, for a schoolwide parade. will also be prohibited. “The kids are all really excited, and so it’s very much a huge celebration,” Canceled festivities says Lori Beasley, a second grade teacher Among many celebrations that were at El Carmelo. “And afterwards we come canceled this year, one that has affected back into the classroom and we get into several people in the Bay Area is the Half a circle, and everybody has a chance to Moon Bay Pumpkin and Art Festival, stand up and go into the middle of the one of California’s largest local festivals. circle and tell us who they are. And then According to Tim Beeman, spokes- they spin around so we can see the whole person for Miramar Events — an event costume.” management company that organizes To maintain classroom traditions multiple local festivals — the Half Moon this year, Beasley plans to send her many Bay Pumpkin and Art Festival draws Halloween books home to her students families from all around Northern Cal- so that they can still read and listen to ifornia and raises half a million dollars scary stories throughout October. As the every year for nonprofits. plan approved by the school board means
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42 OCTOBER 2020
elementary school teachers and students will be back in the classroom in cohorts on Oct. 26, younger children will likely be able to celebrate in person the week of Halloween — which will take place on a Saturday this year. In addition, Halloween enthusiast and Palo Alto resident Brian Carilli still plans to celebrate this year, and is preparing for a unique Halloween filled with safe and entertaining surprises. “I got this train … And my hope is that I'll have a little cart I'll design that will tip the candy into their bag,” Carilli says. “So it would be socially distanced and I'll have the sidewalk marked out to try to keep them [the kids] so that they don't bunch around … but I am not expecting the 500 kids we usually get.” Carilli is aware that his traditionally elaborate Halloween plans will be even more difficult to pull off this year, but he says at the end of the day, making the kids happy is worth all the hard work. “My biggest kick is to see the little ones when they see what's going on — it’s the big wide eyes that are my payoff,” Carilli says. “When I'm setting it up I always wonder ‘Why the heck am I doing this?’ ... But once I see all the little kids running around and having a good time, it makes it worth putting all the time into getting it set up. I'm just hoping that even though it's going to be socially distanced, we can give them [the kids] something they can remember.” v
