Halloween options for families in Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ >> Halloween festivities on Pacific Avenue have been canceled this year by the coronavirus pandemic, but all is not lost for candy-seeking, costumed youth and their parents.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will host “Halloween at the Boardwalk” from noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31. A $10 Trick- or-Treat package includes a collectible Boardwalk candy bag, which can be filled from all participating food and shopping locations on the Boardwalk, an $8 MyBoardwalk Card to be used on outdoor midway or arcade games, and a costume contest.
“This is an opportunity to try to be creative right now and offer a safer alternative,” said Karley Pope, director of promotions for the Boardwalk.
All Boardwalk employees will be pre- screened for COVID-19 symptoms and wear face coverings. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the premises. Social distancing guidelines will be enforced. Pope said there could be a wait to get into the Boardwalk if there’s a large turnout.
Marini’s Candies, O’Neill, Sun Shops and Barbary Coast will be among the businesses handing out candy to youngsters.
While indoor arcades and amusement rides will be closed, the outdoor arcade and outdoor midway games will be available to play. Midway games include speed pitch, milk bottles and rings. The outdoor arcade includes Guitar Hero, air hockey and skee-ball.
The costume contest takes place at Neptune’s Stage. Contestants will pose in front of the harvest backdrop and submit their entry online. Age group winners will be announced at a later date, with each winning a My Boardwalk card of up to $50. (MyBoardwalk Cards don’t have an expiration date.)
For adults, Brews on the Beach, located near Neptune’s Kingdom, will offer Hoppy Hour on Halloween from 4 to 8 p.m. Customers
will receive three food and beer pairings for $30.
Also, on Oct. 30 and 31, Drive-in movies at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — which costs $25 a vehicle — will hold screenings of the 1993 Disney film “Hocus Pocus.” Presales for the showings has sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be available at the gate. Each showing is capped at 130 cars.
The City of Santa Cruz and the Downtown Association announced Sept. 30 that Downtown Santa Cruz will not host its regular Halloween festivities this year. Businesses and restau
rants will be open, but there will be no trick- or-treating. Additionally, Pacific Avenue will remain open, un
like past years when it has been blocked for pedestrian use.
At the Santa Cruz Wharf,
businesses and restaurants will also remain open, but no trick- or-treating will be offered. Instead, residents can participate in Pumpkin Bingo by visiting businesses over the 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf promotion. Visit cityofsantacruz. com/parksandrecevents to reserve a to- go Pumpkin Bingo kit.