Thousands of Everett residents, including children and families dressed in their Halloween best, gathered at the Samuel Gentile Recreation Center on Saturday, October 31, for the City of Everett’s annual Halloween Party.
Hosted by the City’s Department of Youth Development and Enrichment (YDE), the celebration brought the community together for an afternoon filled with candy, caramel apples, games, live performances, balloon twisting and plenty of Halloween excitement.
From the moment families arrived, the Halloween spirit was in full swing. Children were greeted with sweet treats before exploring a variety of activities and entertainment throughout the Rec Center.
“Events like this are what make our community so special,” said Roberto Velasquez, Acting Director of Youth Development and Enrichment. “Seeing so many kids and families come together to celebrate Halloween and enjoy everything we put together is incredibly rewarding. I’m so proud of our amazing YDE staff and volunteers for all the hard work they put into making this event such a success.”
Live performers kept the crowd entertained with Halloween-themed music, while balloon artists delighted children with creative balloon sculptures.
Of course, no Halloween celebration would be complete without costumes! The Rec Center was filled with superheroes, spooky characters and creative outfits of all kinds. From fan favorites like Spider-Man to Halloween icons like Michael Myers, children and families showed off their Halloween spirit. Even Mayor Robert J. Van Campen joined in on the fun, trading in his usual attire for a top hat and purple coat as Willy Wonka!
“Halloween is one of those holidays that brings out the kid in all of us,” said Mayor Van Campen. “Seeing thousands of residents come together, especially so many children dressed up and having the time of their lives, is what makes events like this so special. I’m grateful to our Youth Development and Enrichment team and everyone who helped create such a fun and memorable afternoon for Everett families.”
The celebration was the City’s second Halloween event of the week, following the Halloween Senior Social held Thursday at the Connolly Center.
The City of Everett extends its thanks to the Department of Youth Development and Enrichment, staff, volunteers and everyone who helped make this year’s Halloween Party a success.
