by Neena Strichart
This Saturday, the City of Signal Hill’s pre-Halloween celebration should be especially fun for the Strichart family. We plan to spend our day tomorrow from 3pm to 6pm volunteering at the city’s Halloween carnival, which will this year be held at the Signal Hill Park near the corner of Cherry Avenue and Hill Street (instead of, as in years past, at the fenced in area of the basketball court).
Last year’s event garnered an attendance of more than 1,500 people. After seeing the growing popularity of the carnival, the City’s powers-that-be decided to expand the footprint and activities for the popular annual event this year. The basketball court just isn’t large enough to accommodate such a large crowd.
Whereas many cities have cut Halloween festivities over the last several years because of financial issues, folks in the city of Signal Hill are fortunate because the event will take place regardless of budget concerns, largely due to donations from local businesses. Those contributing this year are Signal Hill Petroleum, Mesa Environmental, American University of Health Sciences, Petroleum Solids Control, Inc., Big E Pizza, Kluger Architects, the Signal Tribune and Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach. Besides money donations, there will also be a host of individuals and organizations on hand to volunteer with the staffing of game booths and craft tables. Also part of the happenings will be a live deejay, a magic show, jumpers and, of course, candy and prizes. Hot dogs, popcorn and drinks will be available for purchase.
Although the City used to host their Halloween carnival on Halloween night, a while back those in charge decided to move the date of the event to the Saturday before Halloween. I think the date change was a stroke of genius. With parents and kids so wound up with costume decisions and local residents staying home to decorate and hand out candy, I think the extra stress of attending a local carnival on the same night was just too much to endure. After all, Halloween is supposed to be a fun holiday, isn’t it?
It will be nice to have the carnival during the day (Daylight Saving Time ends Nov. 2 at 2am) since daylight will surely help everyone get a better look at the kids’ costumes. I think moms and dads will prefer the daytime hours as well. With parents wanting to bring their babies and toddlers to participate and show off their outfits, daytime may feel a bit safer and less scary for the little ones. This time of year it does get cold at night, and some of the cute costumes aren’t very warm. Also, I think holding the event on a day other than Halloween gave kids the chance to wear their costumes more than once as well as to attend a carnival one day and go trick-or-treating a few days later!but then the point may be to keep kids safer by encouraging them to attend the carnival and skip the trick-or-treating.
For more information on the City of Signal Hill’s Halloween Carnival, see the ad on page 7 or call the Community Services Department at (562) 989-7330.
