Who’s ready for ghosts, goblins and the Great Pumpkin? I know I am! After a stressful few weeks jammed with midterm exams, papers and studying, I think we all deserve a chance to celebrate a bit, and what better way to do that than with a little fall fun?

For any new students experiencing their first Halloween at Elizabethtown College, I bet you are beginning to notice that our campus community is not one to scale back on the festivities. From costumes and decorations to eerie music and yummy treats, spookiness is in the air this week. Halloween enthusiasts will most likely be appreciative of the effort put into the event.

There is little debate over the highlight of the annual Halloween events at Etown. Most everyone looks forward to the Spooktacular dinner. With a title like that, who wouldn’t want to attend? Every year, the dining staff puts incredible effort and creativity into a night full of scares. The elaborate costumes and decor render the Marketplace unrecognizable, bound to spook even the macho-est of men. The atmosphere is so chilling, in fact, that it becomes easy to forget about the food altogether.

But just like any of the beloved theme dinners at Etown, the Spooktacular dinner always offers an excellent menu of appropriately-themed items, some fitting for Dracula himself.

Those with a less adventurous palate can enjoy a normal selection at the Jay’s Nest or, perhaps, fill up on candy back at the dorms, as college students tend to do.

Speaking of candy, I would be remiss if I failed to mention one of Etown’s other great Halloween traditions: Student Senate’s annual “Trick or Treat” event.
Who else misses the days when it was socially acceptable to go door to door in wacky costumes, filling entire pillowcases with treats? Well, at Etown, that era hasn’t passed. This event allows the student body — as well as community members — to travel around the Academic Quad collecting candy from various tables.
Not only is it a great way for us to relive our childhood memories, but it also serves as a fun seasonal activity for kids from the community.

Speaking as a transfer student who has experienced two very different campus atmospheres, I can say that Etown is unique in its strong sense of community. Holiday celebrations stand as just one of many examples of this camaraderie. We do not hesitate to come together and have a great time, whether it’s through a special meal or an outreach event. So, this Halloween, I challenge all of my fellow Blue Jays to take advantage of the spooky, scary and yummy things Etown has planned for us!