The Anaheim Halloween Parade

, 1 Comment on The Anaheim Halloween Parade

Last weekend Patrick and I finally made it to one of Anaheim’s oldest traditions, the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade!

Myself standing in front of a float made to look like a vintage sucker box that also looks like a haunted house, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

A large cat and skeleton tower over the crowd below.

Myself standing in front of a quartette of black cats of wood, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

Starting in 1923, the parade was started the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce as a way to bring the community together and create a more family oriented Halloween event, and has been a beloved favorite ever since.

The Anaheim Halloween Parade route begins actually very close to where we live, and makes its way toward downtown and ends at the Anaheim Packing House (an amazing food hall that I blogged about awhile ago), but before the cavalcade of high school bands and unique floats begin their march, downtown Anaheim is host to the Fall Festival, which offers live entertainment (including Bob Baker Marionettes, if you remember my post on them), Halloween themed games, vendors, and crafts for children. It also offers an opportunity to look at some of the floats up close.

Pardon the fact all of my photos involve my hand on my hat! It was a breezy day and someone forgot to wear a hat pin! Oops!

Myself standing in front of a quartette of black cats of wood, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

Myself standing in front of a green, purple, and blue haunted house float, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

A pumpkin headed man holds a bag printed with bats, pumpkins, skeletons, and witches, among a variety of pumpkins.

Myself standing in front of a spooky tree float, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat.

The Bob Baker Marionette performers hold puppets, including a crow, goose, two goats, and two pigs, each of which are wearing clothing.

A pair of scarecrow marionettes made of burlap with patches.

Myself standing in front of a green, purple, and blue haunted house float, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

A large wooden painted jack o'lantern with teeth that can be hit out as a carnival game.

A group of black cats painted on wood.

Myself standing in front of a float made to look like a vintage sucker box that also looks like a haunted house, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

A large black cat with a big orange bowtie reading "Trick or Treat"

Myself standing in front of a quartette of black cats of wood, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

After taking a spin through the festival my friends and I took a seat near the Packing House and eagerly awaited the floats.

Andy of Anaheim, the chipmunk-esque mascot of Anaheim bangs a drum reading "Anaheim Halloween Parade Since 1924"

A faux old-fashioned trolley carries the Bob Baker Marionette performers with various puppets.

A parade performer wears a large black cat mask.

A parade performer wears a green and yellow costume and a large jack o'lantern head with a blue bowler on top.

A orange, black, and white, float that is made to look like an old sucker box, and is also a haunted house, with a ghost floating out a window.

A float of a cartoon Jungle Cruise style boat, with orange and yellow stripe canopy.

A large silver and red rocket float with the "Rocket Witch" sitting atop, wearing a black dress and black witch hat.

Charles Phoenix sits atop a slice of his "Cherpumple" cake, which is a cherry, pumpkin, and apple pie stacked on top of each other, baked into a yellow cake.

A spooky tree with a face and pink and orange lanterns hanging from its branches.

A spooky house of green sides and purple roof.

The creative geniuses behind much of the parade are Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, talented artists who have done an extensive amount of work with Disney as well. Their artistic style is simply adorable, and they have a passion for Anaheim and its history. New for this year, they created Charles Phoenix‘s float, inspired by Phoenix’s creation, the Cherpumple, which is a cherry pie, pumpkin pie, and apple pie, all baked into cake. Overall I am completely head over heels for the Anaheim Halloween Parade, especially the aesthetics! It’s so cute and really feels like the community of Anaheim comes together.

Does your town have a Halloween parade? It’s hard to believe Halloween is tomorrow!! Where has the month of October gone?!

Outfit
Hat: Cost Plus World Market
Dress & Purse: Buffalo Exchange
Brooch: Match Accessories
Shoes: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California

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One comment on “The Anaheim Halloween Parade”

  1. I’ve been waiting impatiently for this post. This is truly the one and only Southern California event that it pains me to miss 😭😭😭. Thank you for the great photos and write up 😘

    Reply