The Annual Halloween Dance allows students to take a break and hang out with friends. (Photo courtesy of ACE Facebook Page)
Sara Pinette Contributing Writer
Another year of Halloween activities, including the annual Halloween dance and Trick-or-Treating Through the Halls, makes its way to the UMF campus and community.
The Association of Campus Entertainment’s (ACE) annual Halloween dance is to be held on Friday, October 26 in the South Dining Hall from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event is free to all with their UMF student I.D. For those without I.D., as well as guests, the cover charge is five dollars.
“The best part was the DJ and that it’s free for all students with an I.D,” said Gabriella Winslow, a senior and Elementary Education major, who went to the dance last year.
Money that is raised from this event will cover the cost of ACE’s annual trip to NACA, an event that gives the club ideas of which entertainers to bring to UMF for events. Music will be provided by the E.R. Tour, an entertainment company that does several events at campus colleges.
“We’re giving out glow sticks, doing glow in the dark face painting, and handing out temporary ACE tattoos and candy,” said Hopkins with pure enthusiasm.
ACE will be holding a costume contest for best male, female, couple, and group of three or more at the dance. Anyone who is interested in winning prizes, such as a tablet or a camera, will have to be present at the dance from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The winners will be announced at midnight. Typically around 400 students and their guests attend this dance but Hopkins expects the excitement of the costume contest to draw in more people.
“I’ve been to all of the Halloween dances since I’ve been here and I’ve always had a great time,” said Hopkins. “You get to hang out with your friends and just let loose for a night.”
After this event concludes, UMF transitions from a college Halloween celebration to a more family-friendly environment as it gears up for its annual trick-or-treating experience. The campus may be shifting in its atmosphere but students can keep their costumes on for the next event.
APO, a service club at UMF, will put on Trick-or-Treat Through the Halls for the community of UMF and Farmington on Sunday, October 28th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“Trick-or-Treat Through the Halls is an event where community members come with their children and they get to do a safe form of trick or treating,” said APO club president Emily Hartford, a senior and Elementary Education major. “The club will take small groups into the resident halls and UMF students can participate by handing out candy and decorating their hall and doors.”
This extravaganza has been an event for more than eight years and has consistently excited people from UMF and the surrounding community, according to Hartford. Hartford has been an active member of the APO club for over 3 years.
According to Hartford, Trick-or-Treat Through the Halls has always been a great opportunity to connect UMF to the town of Farmington, while also getting college students and little ones excited for the holiday.
“The Trick-or-Treating Through the Halls was fun because you get to see all the kids dressed up in cool costumes,” said Eliza Halbig, who was involved in the event last year.
“In past years, roughly 200 people from the community show up to this event,” said Hartford. “However, the event is still dependent on student participation because the more campus residents are involved, the better the experience is for the children.”