Halloween in Santa Monica: What You Need to Know

From the city of Santa Monica:

Our favorite little ghosts, goblins, princesses and superheroes are ready to take the streets of Santa Monica for the spookiest holiday of the year. There are several fun events taking place throughout the city this year.

No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating – Santa Monica Farmers Market

October 18, 9-1 p.m. at Pico Farmers Market, Virginia Avenue Park

October 19, 10-1 p.m. at 2640 Main Street Farmers Market

Pick a pumpkin to decorate the safe way.

Frightfully “Fintastic” Fishy Fest at Heal the Bay’s Pier Aquarium

October 25-26, 12:30-5 p.m.

Spooky, family friendly activities, glow-in-the-dark deep sea experience, craft colorful Dia de los Muertos masks and on Sunday come in costume for a spooky parade that will trick-or-treat at Pier businesses. www.healththebay.org/events

All You Can Carry Pumpkin Patch – Santa Monica Farmers Market

October 29, 8:30am at Arizona Ave and 2nd Street

Keep as many pumpkins as you can carry down pumpkin patch lane.

Montana Merchants Association Halloween Hop

Oct. 31, 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Montana Avenue 6th - 17th Streets
Safely stroll and trick-or-treat at numerous Montana merchants.

http://montanaave.com/event/annual-halloween-hop/

Don’t forget about Dia de los Muertos, this popular holiday is being celebrated many days at multiple venues such as Virginia Avenue Park, Edison Language Academy and at the big Day of the Dead city celebration at Woodlawn Cemetery on November 1. For the complete list of events please visit smgov.net/dia.

One local favorite will not be taking place in 2014. PALloween, usually held at the Barker Hangar has been a popular stop for safe and spectacular trick-or-treating hosted by the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL). In the past, the event was generously sponsored by the non-profit Keep A Child Alive. That group put on an annual Halloween event with amazing sets, décor and costumes and generously let PALloween have access to it all the following night. Keep A Child Alive is no longer hosting their annual fundraiser.

“We were fortunate to have found such a generous partner in Keep A Child Alive for so many years,” says PAL Director Eula Fritz. “Even though our PALloween event can no longer piggyback on their fundraiser, they donated some props and costumes to PAL so we may use them for future events.”

PALloween was such a well-attended event because it put an emphasis on fun and safe Halloween nights. Santa Monica Police Department shares these tips to make sure your trick-or-treaters are safe wherever they choose to celebrate.

Tips For A Safe Halloween

1. 1. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
2. Make sure costumes are visible in the dark so drivers will see kids walking.
3. Be extra-cautious crossing the street.
4. Wear well-fitting masks and costumes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
5. Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Don’t eat anything that is open or homemade (unless it comes from a trusted source).
6. Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

“Pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween,” warns Police Chief Jacqueline A. Seabrooks. “Be extra cautious while trick-or-treating, use marked crosswalks whenever possible and only cross streets at corners, never between parked cars or mid-block. Drivers should also slowdown in neighborhoods and keep an eye out for kids.”

For more Halloween safety tips from the SMPD please visit http://santamonicapd.org/Content.aspx?id=17976. To learn more about the Santa Monica Police Activities League, stop by the PAL Youth Center at 1401 Olympic Blvd., call 310-458-8988 or visit www.smpal.org.

PHOTO Patch file photo.

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