Even our dog likes Halloween
I remember trick-or-treating twice as a child. Once I was a big pink bunny, something resembling the ridiculous costume given to Ralphie by his Aunt Clara in A Christmas Story. The other time I was a Crayola Crayon made out of poster board, that unfortunately, was too long and did not allow for my knees to bend. I had to waddle up and down the street, which also made climbing stairs a little precarious.
My children have dressed up and begged for candy since before they could walk. We decorate the house and invite friends over for dinner. Then, groups of families walk the neighborhood together, while the adults passing out candy set up tables and fire-pits at the end of their driveways. Halloween becomes a neighborhood event and block party.
It’s fun to see what kind of creative costumes the kids design. My youngest tends to be a book character. This year she has designed her own version of The Mad Hatter. I also love the smell of caramel apples, hot cocoa and candles burning inside our Jack-O-Lanterns.
The kids know that my favorite candy is Almond Joy, so they save all of those for me at the end of the night. And of course, no Halloween would be complete without watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.” This year, our family is adding a new event to our Halloween calendar.
The Washtenaw Community Concert Band is kicking off their 35th concert season with a Halloween concert on Tuesday night, October 30th at Towsley Auditorium, located on the Ann Arbor Washtenaw Community College campus. It will be a 70 minute concert starting at 7:30 pm, geared toward children of all ages. Not only are they encouraging the audience to come dressed in costume, but many of the players will be too.
The kids will love the costume parade and many other surprises of the evening. And the best part? The concert is completely FREE.
As my kids start getting older, their interest in trick-or-treating wanes, but our delight in spending dedicated time together as a family does not diminish. Sometimes the end of one tradition is an opportunity to create a new one.
Besides, listening to great music won’t give you cavities or a belly ache!
For more information, visit the Washtenaw Community Concert Band’s website or find them on Facebook for this season’s complete schedule.
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