Disney princesses, fairies, safari animals and superheroes are just a few among the thousands that flocked to the Anaheim Fall Festival in Downtown Anaheim on Center Street Promenade on Saturday afternoon, followed by a Halloween Parade in the evening.
This year’s festival garnered over 6,000 visitors in Anaheim for a full day of kid-friendly, carnival-oriented games, including everything from spinning a wheel for prizes, beanbag throws, arts and crafts booths, swag bags, vendors and candy for trick-or-treaters.
“I really, really, really like the cupcakes and candy! They’re really yummy!” said a little girl, who was dressed up as a ladybug.
Visitors even had the chance to check out Hoagy’s Haunted Halls for a bloodless, gutless and gore-free attraction. Live entertainment also took the stage, from Oxford Academy Fiddlers and the Anaheim Ballet, to Colony of the Performing Arts and Ronald McDonald, just to name a few.
“I love giving back to the community and to youth. This day is mainly geared for the kids and I think that makes it a special day for them,” said John Peterson, former President of the Kiwanis Club. Peterson has volunteered with the festival for about 20 years.
Children up to age 12 were also able to participate in a costume contest for cash prizes. Contestants graced the stage and greeted a panel of four judges as Snow White, Mama and Papa Smurf, cats, a peacock, lions, tigers and bears, Snow Whites, Spiderman, Ironman, Superman and so much more.
A few of the winners included Snow White, who slept on a makeshift bed surrounded by her Seven Dwarves, with her Evil Queen-mother and Prince Charming-father; a garden gnome; and a baby lobster whose parents dressed up as chefs. He was even placed in a pot and topped off with some vegetables for décor, which sealed the deal for the judges and crowd-favorite.
By the evening, locals had already set up their foldable chairs, couches and even caution tape to claim a front-row view of the Halloween Parade on Broadway between Manchester and Clementine.
Cruella De Vil, the villain from Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, was this year’s VIP Grand Marshall. De Vil joined a line-up of famous Grand Marshalls, including baseball legend, Babe Ruth. Ruth was the parade’s first Grand Marshall when it started in 1924. On the contrary, it appears as though De Vil would be a rather infamous VIP.
Claps, cheers, oohs and ahhs could be heard from the crowd as De Vil made her way along the route, in addition to Tom Tait, Anaheim’s Mayor and VIP Community Grand Marshall, Anaheim Police SWAT Unit and Fire Department, among many others of the 46 in the line-up.
This year’s festival garnered over 6,000 visitors in Anaheim for a full day of kid-friendly, carnival-oriented games, including everything from spinning a wheel for prizes, beanbag throws, arts and crafts booths, swag bags, vendors and candy for trick-or-treaters.
“I really, really, really like the cupcakes and candy! They’re really yummy!” said a little girl, who was dressed up as a ladybug.
Visitors even had the chance to check out Hoagy’s Haunted Halls for a bloodless, gutless and gore-free attraction. Live entertainment also took the stage, from Oxford Academy Fiddlers and the Anaheim Ballet, to Colony of the Performing Arts and Ronald McDonald, just to name a few.
“I love giving back to the community and to youth. This day is mainly geared for the kids and I think that makes it a special day for them,” said John Peterson, former President of the Kiwanis Club. Peterson has volunteered with the festival for about 20 years.
Children up to age 12 were also able to participate in a costume contest for cash prizes. Contestants graced the stage and greeted a panel of four judges as Snow White, Mama and Papa Smurf, cats, a peacock, lions, tigers and bears, Snow Whites, Spiderman, Ironman, Superman and so much more.
A few of the winners included Snow White, who slept on a makeshift bed surrounded by her Seven Dwarves, with her Evil Queen-mother and Prince Charming-father; a garden gnome; and a baby lobster whose parents dressed up as chefs. He was even placed in a pot and topped off with some vegetables for décor, which sealed the deal for the judges and crowd-favorite.
By the evening, locals had already set up their foldable chairs, couches and even caution tape to claim a front-row view of the Halloween Parade on Broadway between Manchester and Clementine.
Cruella De Vil, the villain from Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, was this year’s VIP Grand Marshall. De Vil joined a line-up of famous Grand Marshalls, including baseball legend, Babe Ruth. Ruth was the parade’s first Grand Marshall when it started in 1924. On the contrary, it appears as though De Vil would be a rather infamous VIP.
Claps, cheers, oohs and ahhs could be heard from the crowd as De Vil made her way along the route, in addition to Tom Tait, Anaheim’s Mayor and VIP Community Grand Marshall, Anaheim Police SWAT Unit and Fire Department, among many others of the 46 in the line-up.
Following the parade and events, many left in positive and high spirits.
All Fall Festival and Halloween Parade activities were sponsored by local organizations, including the City of Anaheim, Anaheim Connected, Kaiser Permanente, and the Disneyland Resort.
That sounds like a blast! It's good to see that there doesn't have to be crazy blood-filled mazes or faux-sociopaths running around for people to have a good time at Halloween. Honestly, I stopped going to those uber scary things because they seemed rather over done and I'd rather just watch a movie and eat candy with family.
ReplyDeleteThe little kid dressed up as a lobster in a pot with his parents as the chefs sounds like an amazing costume! It's always funny to see how creative parents can be with little kid costumes. That one sounds like a great way for the whole family to be involved in a costume.
ReplyDeleteIt is also good to hear that they kept the blood and gore out of the festival. Halloween is mostly a time for little kids but it seems like in recent year it has started to be taken over by over-done gore and sexual costumes by adults. It's good to see at least one city is making the effort to keep the holiday a fun time for kids and adults alike.