photo courtsey of Jill Baker

Ghostly Gathering for the Holidays
By Jill Baker, 10.27.05

Halloween has grown from a time for kids to dress up and go trick-or-treating to most adults participating in the event.

Kath Wallace of McMinnville Oregon has celebrated Halloween with a huge party every year. She starts planning the party on November 1 st the following year.

Invitations are designed to fit the annual theme of the party and sent out.

“[It costs] about $20.00 for postage,” Wallace said.

“Adjustments are made every year on what did or did not work. We relive the night the day after. Then the following year in September we start planning in earnest,” Wallace said. “In August I start buying the prizes,” Wallace said.

Each year there are different prizes given out for the scariest, funniest and couples costumes. Prizes are also given out for the “tricks-for-treats” category also known as the “stupidest human tricks” game.

“All categories are voted on by everyone there,” Wallace said. “We have an applause –o-meter for the tricks-for-treat category.”

Past prizes have included a basket with a horror film, popcorn and candy. “People appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gifts,” she said.

The theme for Wallace’s party this year is “Horror in TV Land.” The prizes, to save on the expense of the holiday, are being hand made this year.

"This year we made trophies shaped like tombstones. We laminated a picture on a gravestone. For the best dressed couple we put the couple from Greenacres on the tombstone,” Wallace said. “

The annual party is more then just a celebration of Halloween for all the attendees.

“It is a time we can let go of the summer and it brings everybody back home. It re-focuses us. All of us are interested to find out what we did over the summer and what we will be doing for Christmas,” Wallace said.

“People have told me it represents the gateway to the holiday season,” Wallace said.

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