MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- More than 600 community members showed up for the annual Marine Corps Community Services sponsored children’s Halloween party at IronWorks Gym here Oct. 30
The event served as a way for the local Japanese community to interact and participate in Halloween festivities.
To get ready for a day devoted to pumpkins, candy and spooky costumes, working parties and volunteers put preparations for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball on a temporary hold to use the sports courts for a place for the children to enjoy the festivities.
Tony Martinez, special events coordinator with MCCS, oversaw all the preparations of activities.
According to Martinez, the party was a fun way to bring everyone together on base to have a safe way for the kids and their families to celebrate Halloween.
Volunteers decorated the IronWorks Gym sports courts with Halloween decorations, inflatable jumpers, fog and spooky lights to set the atmosphere.
“It took about three days to put everything together for the kids,” said Pfc. Doug Burns, volunteer. “It ended up being a pretty good turnout.”
Club Iwkauni provided free hotdogs, hamburgers, French-fries, cotton candy, witches brew, which was made from Gatorade and a life-sized mummy cake covered with white frosting gauze and gooey, red jelly-filled insides.
Isamu Frog, professional clown and balloonist, kept kids and families entertained by making balloon animals, pumpkins and swords during the entire event.
“We try to do everything we can for the kids,” said Martinez.
Every hour, volunteers threw buckets of candy into the crowd of excited children who shouted for pieces of sweets to be thrown in their direction.
MCCS also sponsored a Halloween costume contest and gave out prizes to first, second and third place.
Three volunteers were directed to walk around during the Halloween party and select three of the best costumes they each saw.
The children in their costumes were later brought onto the stage in the center of the sports courts where, based on crowd response, the winners were selected.
Little Miss Shortcake won first place and a 75-dollar gift certificate from MCCS.
Popeye the Sailor Man won second place and a 50-dollar gift certificate.
A young, toddler penguin won third place and a 25-dollar gift certificate.
“I didn’t really see many scary costumes this year,” said Martinez. “They were all very cute. I was hoping to see more scary ones.”
Children went home with bags of candy and smiles on their faces.