Camas throws a ‘pumpkin party’

Camas Parks and Recreation brought its popular Pumpkin Party (formerly known as Family Halloween Night) back to the city this month after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 34th annual Halloween event returned to Liberty Middle School on Oct. 22, with an assortment of carnival games, prizes, fall crafts and other activities designed for children ages 12 and younger and their families.

Camas Recreation Coordinator Krista Bradshaw said “it was a terrific return” with 617 people participating in this year’s Pumpkin Party.

Event sponsors, including Camas Community Education, Camas Grocery Outlet, Soroptimists International and VFW Post 4278, helped keep the event free for Camas families.

Participants who brought two cans of food or non-perishable items to benefit the Inter-faith Treasure House, were entered to win a Halloween-themed basket.

The event also gave prizes to a number of Halloween costume winners who were judged on their costume’s originality, creativity and use of hand-crafted versus store-bought elements. This year’s costume winners included:

o 1st-place winners: 6-month-old Carter Barbajal as a 101 Dalmatians baby (ages 3 and under); Cohen Lee, 4, as Marshall from “Paw Patrol” (ages 4-5); Jaysie Yoon, 7, with a black-and-white costume (ages 6-7); Taylor Reaves, 9, as an angel (ages 8-9); and Ellie Tieaskie, 12, as a grandpa (ages 10-12).

o 2nd-place winners: Aiden Schlauch, 14 months, as Peter Pan (ages 3 and under); Bodhi Lee, 4, as Chase from “Paw Patrol” (ages 4-5); Evie Abicht, 6, as a redhead (ages 6-7); Simon Dupont, 8, as Harry Potter (ages 8-9); and Jocelyn Sandrin, 12, dressed in a white cape (ages 10-12).

o 3rd-place winners: Hayden Gary, 18 months, as a lion (ages 3 and under); Sierra Strzelewicz, 4, as Elsa from “Paw Patrol” (ages 4-5); Emmy Lou Wildharber, 6, wearing a black outfit with a bow (ages 6-7); Charlie Wildharber, 9, as a wolf (ages 8-9); and, Tessa Sekelsky, 12, as Joan Jett (ages 10-12). Lauren Kidd, 12, dressed as a “sleep princess” also won an honorable mention prize in the ages 10-12 category.