Celebrating 100 Years of Halloween Fun in Anaheim

, 2 Comments on Celebrating 100 Years of Halloween Fun in Anaheim

Last weekend Patrick and I got to participate in celebrating a 100 year old tradition here in Anaheim, the Anaheim Fall Festival! This year we were more involved than ever. From creating floats, to packing for and setting up the festival, to being in the parade itself! Due to the chaos there isn’t as many photos as I would like, but it takes people to make things like this happen and I am happy to be a part of it!

Last year I became the “Character Host” to Pumpkin Man and Whiskerino, two original characters that have been created for our Festival. Both of them have a subtle 20s-30s vibe to them, so I came up with a friendly Candy Corn witch to accompany them around the Festival. In addition to our lovely cast of characters, the Festival celebrates both Halloween and Dìa de Los Muertos, and includes live entertainment, costume contests, crafts, and amazing artists selling their work, many create artwork inspired by the event. So it’s safe to say we dropped some dough!

Myself, wearing a mustard dress with candy corn painted along the bottom, standing in front of showboat float.

The top of a painted photo opt frame that features images of butterfly wings and a skeleton with Day of the Dead

Myself, wearing my Candy Corn Witch ensemble, standing next to Pumpkin Man, a gentleman with a pumpkin head, with a blue bowler atop, a green jacket, blue and white gingham shirt, and a red bowtie.

Myself, wearing a mustard dress with candy corn painted along the bottom, standing in front of an arch that reads "Pumpkins" across the top with a cartoon owl sitting on top.

A mini recreation of the Stovall's bus, which features a goofy martian face on the front.

Side of the Martian Mobile, which features multiple shades of green and blue, and reads "Stovall's Space Age Lodge Anaheim, CA"

Myself, wearing a mustard dress with candy corn painted along the bottom, standing in front of an arch that reads "Pumpkins" across the top with a cartoon owl sitting on top.

A cute little red head dressed as a cat is painted on the side of small push cart float and across the top reads "Show Pigeon"

Large float featuring Andy Anaheim, dressed as a marching band drummer.

Myself, wearing a mustard dress with candy corn painted along the bottom, leaning against one of our floats.

A spooky but cartoony haunted house painted purple, blue and green.

Myself, wearing my Candy Corn Witch ensemble, standing next to Pumpkin Man, a gentleman with a pumpkin head, with a blue bowler atop, a green jacket, blue and white gingham shirt, and a red bowtie.

A large cartoony spider float, wearing a purple top hat.

Myself, wearing a mustard dress with candy corn painted along the bottom, standing in front of a cartoon spooky tree float.

A retro ice cream push cart transformed into an ice cream monster.

Myself, wearing my Candy Corn Witch ensemble, standing next to Pumpkin Man, a gentleman with a pumpkin head, with a blue bowler atop, a green jacket, blue and white gingham shirt, and a red bowtie.

As our Festival began to wind down, I made a costume change to accompany one of our new floats, Stovall’s Space Age Lodge. Back in the 1960s Stovall’s Space Age Lodge was a fantastic out of the world themed motel that had a Martian Mobile shuttle that took guests to Disneyland. While the out of this world theming may be gone, the motel is still there, and the only remnant is a collection of topiaries. Additionally, the bus itself was once featured in the parade with a troupe of Girl Scouts! We brought it back to life, albeit in a smaller format, and the beloved Ambassador of Americana, Charles Phoenix rode in it while Patrick drove. In the same theme, I was inspired by a vintage photograph I saw at the Muzeo exhibit of a couple dressed as “Flying Discs” and did my own spin on it.

Myself, wearing an all silver outfit standing in front of the Martian Mobile, with Charles Phoenix standing inside.

The sun set and we were on our way, making our way through Anaheim to roaring crowds. It’s amazing how many people come out for this parade! It really makes Anaheim feel like a small town and not just the home of Disneyland.

Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the parade, and I can’t wait to get working on it along with our many other volunteers who help bring this amazing event to life!

Candy Corn Witch
Hat: The Beheaded
Dress: Amazon, painted by me, candy corn charms added by me
Shoes: Re-Mix, with candy corn clips made by me
Bangles: Match Accessories

Flying Disc
Plunger Hat & Disc: Made by Patrick
Top: Amazon
Skirt: Amazon
Tights: I don’t remember!
Mocs: Minnetonka (Sadly, no longer available, but there are used ones online)

Note: The above list contains affiliate links!

Flying Disc & Stovall’s Bus Images Courtesy of Jody Daily

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2 comments on “Celebrating 100 Years of Halloween Fun in Anaheim”

  1. AMAZING! Great work, great looks, great pics, great writeup, looks like a great time for all! It’s impressive and readily evident how much creativity, craft, and sweat went into making that happen. We were besieged…nay, invaded…in Old Towne Orange with some one thousand trick-or-treaters, but might need to come out next year for the 100th Anniversary Anaheim Fall Festival Parade.

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