Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Town Square and The District serve up Halloween delights to trick-or-treaters

Family-oriented events draw bigger and bigger crowds each year, say organizers

Halloween: Town Square

Christopher DeVargas

Trick-or-treaters pose with “Reb” at Town Square on Halloween Monday, Oct. 31, 2011.

Halloween: The District

Linzie Lee hands out candy to trick-or-treaters at The District on Halloween night Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Launch slideshow »

Halloween: Town Square

A little girl blows bubbles while riding the Launch slideshow »

Stretching her tiny fingers out, 2-year-old Makenna Hansen tried catching the fog being generated in the bushes surrounding a giant ghost statue in the center of The District at Green Valley Ranch.

It’s Halloween and the mini Cinderella insisted on being adorable as her mother, Kendra Hansen, recorded a video of her little girl.

The Hansens don’t live in the surrounding area, but decided to attend the outdoor mall’s ghoulish festivities.

“Nobody in my neighborhood had any decorations or anything fun up,” Kendra said.

Makenna dashed around in her shimmering white costume, headed to the stage where a mash pit of sugar-filled toddlers danced the “Electric Slide” and other numbers.

“She’s on a mission,” her mother said.

“Bye,” said the 2-year-old at her mother’s request.

Makenna and her mom were among the thousands of people who dressed up and headed to either The District or Town Square—or rather, Town Scary—for an evening of trick-or-treating.

And there were lots of treats.

“We’ve gone through 25 bags,” said Katie Metchik, an employee passing out candy at the Town Square location of BCBG Max Azria.

The events were promoted by CBS radio stations KLUC 98.5 at Town Square and Mix 94.1 at The District, said Stacie Schmidt, CBS director of marketing.

“We’re interested in safe, family oriented trick-or-treating events,” Schmidt said. “The crowds get bigger and bigger every year.”

Crowds and candy could be found at each location along with a few differences. Carnival-style booths were set up at The District where Green Valley High School theater students volunteered to get into character.

“Bearded Lady, 5 o’clock shadow, the razor’s enemy,” said senior Caitlin Freeman. “I go by many names.”

Town Square also had notable attractions like McKee Ranch offering hayrides.

“You are all beautiful,” Christi McKee told a few fairies climbing on top of the haystacks.

The cutest costume McKee had seen so far was not one on a little girl, but one on a black and white dog who was carrying a little horse jockey on its back.

“It was fabulous,” McKee said.

Cooper, another outfitted pooch, could be seen walking her humans around Town Square.

The dog was dressed as a squirrel for no reason, according to her owner Zarah Prescion.

“It’s a last minute thing,” Prescion said. “We just bought it today at Target.”

Some of the more popular costumes weren’t purchased but made.

May, a mother of three who declined giving her last name had made costumes for her sons, Sean, Jean and Dean.

The boys were dressed as birds from the game Angry Birds.

“On the iPad,” Sean said.

Other costumes were made in a different way.

“I’m not really dressed up,” said Bill Curto, who was toting around 4-month-old Keira Curto in a baby carrier like Zach Galifianakis did in the “Hangover.”

“Things sort of came together,” Curto said. “I have a beard and we have a baby.”

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