When most people picture Halloween, they think of cute kids in costumes parading up and down the street and begging elderly neighbors for candy. Once college hits, it’s an entirely different story. Although the costumes stick around, usually more complex and amusing, students replace the trick-or-treating with a night out surrounded by friends.
Spooky plans
“I’ll be in Madison for Freakfest,” said freshman Rafa Muñoz.
Freshman Danny Torres and sophomore Garret Wieland-Hamilton will be in Madison to celebrate, too. But college responsibility can sometimes interrupt a party lifestyle.
“[I’m] staying home. I have too much homework,” said sophomore Kwani Burks.
Sophomore Kelsie Leurquin was in the same boat, kind of. “I’ll either be in Madison for Freakfast or staying in and doing homework.”
Junior Erica Steib broke the pattern; She plans to hit up a concert on Friday.
From the outside looking in, one would assume that college students lose the excitement of creating and wearing a costume; in fact, it’s the total opposite.
Costume pick
“I’ll be wearing some type of costume inspired by How I Met Your Mother,” said Muñoz. Torres is sticking to his childhood roots, as he plans to wear a costume inspired by a character from Dragon Ball Z.
As for the upper classmen, Stieb will be going as Poison Ivy or Beetle Juice, and Leurquin is debating between Sandy from Grease or a Barbie doll. Wieland-Hamilton will be channeling his inner countryside by dressing as a trucker.
One outlier is Kwani Burks. His costume? Pajamas. Spoken like a true college student.
Fall-inspired activities
“I wish I had enough time! And some pumpkins to carve,” said Stieb.
Wieland-Hamilton made time in his busy schedule. “My roommates and I went to a pumpkin patch and picked some pumpkins, then went back and carved them together”.
Only one student had some input when it came to other Halloween activities Milwaukee students should know about.
“The Pumpkin Pavilion! I think they do it once a year. Or the Hill Has Eyes, whatever that haunted house is,” said Stieb.
Favorite memory
“Freakfest two years ago, definitely. It was my first time and I was kinda young,” said Wieland-Hamilton. No wonder he wants to return this year.
“My hometown had a really good Haunted Woods Walk. A guy with a chainsaw would come after you and you had to crawl through old McDonald’s play tubes through the woods, very cool,” said Stieb.
One favorite memory brought it all back to the trick-or-treating aspect. “I dressed up as Sully from Monsters Inc. I got the most candy ever,” said Muñoz.
“Trick-or-treating in general,” said Torres.
Who doesn’t love a pillowcase full of candy? Burks does! “I ate a LOT of candy,” said Burks.
“Every Halloween my family would put all of us kids in a trailer and my grandpa would pull us by his lawnmower and we would drive up and down the street and around their yards looking for pumpkins to carve,” said Leurquin.
Regardless of Halloween plans, costume, or memory, remember one thing this coming weekend:
“Always walk in groups. Leave with who you showed up with and be safe,” said Burks.
Helpful advice never hurts. Have a spook-tacular Halloween, Milwaukee.