HalloweenFest: A sweet treat for the Arlington community

By: Noelle Larino Photos: Marymount Flickr

Witches, superheroes, princesses, and the alike were seen roaming Marymount’s campus on Friday, Oct. 27. The cause of these rare visitors: Marymount’s annual HalloweenFest.

Kids trick-or-treating in the Lee Center

Each year, children from underprivileged local communities are bused to Marymount’s main campus for an evening of Halloween activities consisting of fun and games. Many of the visiting children live in underprivileged neighborhoods that prevent them from trick-or-treating or enjoying other festivities on Halloween. HalloweenFest is an event which provides the opportunity for Marymount students to bring joy and celebration to children in a safe environment each year.

Marymount Students and faculty dressed
as characters from Moana and Harry Potter

This year was no exception, as Marymount students worked together to create yet another successful event. The event is hosted by Marymount’s Campus Ministry in coordination with the University’s clubs and organizations, being mainly student operated.

This year’s theme was based upon the popular Disney animated film, Moana. Kids had the chance to meet various characters from the movie, including Moana, that were played by Marymount students.

The Lee Center, where the main event took place, was decorated with sea creatures and tropical plants and animals. The decorations as well as the enthusiastic spirit of Marymount students enabled the children to enter the magical world of Moana.

The children were also treated to a campus tour led by students through decorated residence halls. Each residence hall had a theme and the kids were able to collect candy and other treats along the way. After the tour, the children were

Black Student Alliance concocting
magical potions for the kids

guided back to the lower recreation gym of the Lee Center, where there were games and activity tables for the kids to enjoy.

Each club provided a unique activity for the kids to participate in. Some of these activities included pumpkin painting, coloring, concocting magical potions, and even performing scientific experiments. The children also had the opportunity to meet Disney villains as various clubs collaborated with one another to wear costumes, providing the children with an entertaining Halloween experience.

Overall, this event demonstrates the outstanding commitment which Marymount has to the dedication of service to the community. The most rewarding aspect of the HalloweenFest event however, is to see children’s faces light up at the excitement of candy, costumes, and all the make-believe items which constitute childhood during Halloween; things these children may have never experienced if it were not for the students of Marymount who dedicated their time and effort to this event.