The third floor of Lehigh’s University Center was crowded with costumed children laughing and enjoying their time as they made paper plate ghosts and mummy cups on Sunday, as Lehigh’s Community Service Office held its annual Spooktacular event.
This year, Spooktacular, a Halloween event for local families, brought 700 families to Lehigh’s campus.
“We invite all the kids from the local schools to campus to have a safe environment where they can have fun Halloween activities and get a hot meal,” said Kate Colyer, the assistant director of the Community Service Office.
The Spooktacular event, which was first held 14 years ago, has grown from 50 to 70 families to 700, on average. Carolina Hernandez, director of the Community Service Office, said the program first started with the kids traveling to and from different residence halls to enjoy activities held in each location. However, because Lehigh’s campus is difficult to walk around, the event was moved to the third floor of the University Center.
Working the event were 300 student volunteers —members from different clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities who volunteered their time and submitted proposals to host an activity at the UC. Sixteen activities were held, in addition to pumpkin carving at Psi Upsilon fraternity and trick-or-treating at Trembley Park Apartments.
“We have to be a little bit selective, but we’re so fortunate and grateful for our students that are eager and willing to participate,” Hernandez said.
Representing Alpha Omega Epsilon, Ashley Mckendry, ’18, hosted a game called “Pin the Bow Tie on Mr. Skeleton,” a Halloween-themed version of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
“I like the event because I think it’s a really good way to unite with the community — to get Lehigh involved,” Mckendry said. “I think it’s a really fun way for the kids to see Halloween in a different way.”
A resident of the Bethlehem community, Minh, watched as her daughter excitedly won a prize at the event.
“All I can say is (Spooktacular) is wonderful,” she said.
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