Although Tropical Storm Sandy pounced through South Florida and forced the City to reschedule Booogie by the Beach to Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 27th and 28th, instead of Friday, Oct. 26th), the Annual Halloween event still welcomed over 3,000 guests during the weekend. Residents and guests came out in their best costumes and ready for a weekend filled with fun. Games, rides, contests and special performances took place throughout both evenings.
Inside the gym, children could visit various “trick-or-treat” stations, where they could play a game (or test a skill) in return for earning a prize. There were also balloon artists and face painters on hand, to help spice up that costume, or else give those that didn’t have a costume, a special look to fit right in. The feature presentation was an interactive break dance show, by No Bodies Crew, who incorporated various themed acts into the performance, including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. With audience participation, the gymnasium was filled with onlookers, crowding the stage to see our own local talents.
The event also included carnival rides for various ages to enjoy, including the Jack & Jill Fair Slide, the Rock Climbing Wall, and much more! Guests could take a picture in our pumpkin patch, stroll through the rides, or sit back and enjoy the entertainment from the DJ. On Saturday night the annual Costume Contest was held and prizes in various categories were awarded. It’s amazing the imaginations that some of our residents have and the costumes they come up with!
The highlight of the event, as always, was the two-level haunted house. Level One was of a mildly scary nature, but even that proved too much for some. Level Two, for the more daring, certainly worked its magic as screams could be heard throughout the maze of rooms. Some residents made multiple trips through the Haunted House. They couldn’t get enough of the fun!
City event planners are already scheming for next year’s themes for the ‘Haunted’ rooms. This is one event that is just as much fun for the staff as it is for the participants! Call the Cultural & Community Services Department for information on upcoming events, at 305.792.1706.
