Fancy Feet delighted the crowd at the Marquez Halloween Carnival.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
Marquez Charter Elementary continued its long-standing tradition with its annual Halloween Carnival on October 22.
Friends of Marquez President Caitlin Machol said the fundraiser dates “back well before any of the current parents can remember.” This editor’s 31-year-old daughter went with a friend when she was six, and was disappointed she didn’t win a goldfish. The event must be at least 25 years old.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
One of the more popular events this year was the toilet toss. Participants have to throw a roll of toilet paper into an empty stool. “The kids always love it,” Machol said and explained that each grade level sponsored two booths, giving the more than 1,000 people, who attended during the three-hour period, plenty of opportunity to try their skills at different carnival games.
The highlight for some attendees was performances by Fancy Feet, Palisades Studio and Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts.
No Halloween carnival is complete without a haunted house and Marquez Elementary did not disappoint.
Fifth grade students at Marquez designed the house, decorated it and once the festival began, served as actors in the house.
“It’s so fun to watch their creativity and excitement!” Machol said.
Two girls are frightened at the haunted house.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
Some of the other fan favorite games and attractions were Seagull Sport Zone, Go Fish! and face painting.
The festival organized by Friends of Marquez, raises funds to benefit the Enrichment Fund, which supplements the school budget at Marquez. This allows for enrichment classes to provided for all grade levels and to help support smaller class sizes.
The concession stand, which provided popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, nachos and pizza, raises money for the fifth-grade fund, which helps with the cost of culmination, purchasing yearbooks and paying for field trips.
Machol said, “We would like to thank our event sponsors Loomey’s, The Yogurt Shoppe and the Molly Steinsapir Foundation for their generosity.”
She added her thanks to the Marquez families who donated decorations, prizes, concessions and their time to make the event so successful. “We were thrilled with the community support!” Machol said.
Everyone in the “Marquez Kingdom” proclaimed the carnival a success.
Photo: RICH SCMITT/CTN
(Editor’s note: Photographer Rich Schmitt captured other great photos. To see more selections or to purchase one, visit: click here.)
We moved to the Palisades in early 1976 and our children were in 1st and 3rd grades at Marquez and the Halloween festival was a fund raiser then … I was the “pocket” lady 😊.
I believe that it was around before 1976 , but don’t know when it started. A long and loved tradition .
The Marquez Halloween Carnival is the best! I distinctly remember, from back when I was a Marquez student in the mid-to-late 1960s, the anticipation of going to the carnival, the joy of winning a goldfish by bouncing a ping pong ball into one of many small glass bowls, and the fun of the costume contest. I’m very glad to see that the tradition continues so many years later.