LANCASTER – In a press conference replete with scary clowns, corpses in coffins, cobwebs, witches and even Ghostbusters dancers, the City of Lancaster announced its plans Tuesday for the BooLVD Halloween and Harvest Festival, to a crowd of about 50.
“I can’t imagine anybody coming and not having a great time,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.
Parris said last year’s debut of the BooLVD Halloween festival was a raging success with thousands of attendees, and went on to win national awards. Most remarkable, he said, was the fact that there were no incidents reported.
“We had security for 10,000 people; 30,000 showed up,” he said. “Not one incident… not even an argument that they had to break up. That was truly remarkable, especially when you realize people had anonymity, they were all in masks.”
This year’s old-fashioned Halloween and Harvest Festival will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, October 29, along the BLVD between Beech and Gadsden Avenues. The event will feature family-friendly attractions with something for all ages, say organizers.
“We have actually reengineered it a little bit,” said Rhonda Perez, Senior Operations Manager of the Parks and Recreations Department. “We are going to be using the entire boulevard so its more foot-traffic friendly and stroller friendly.”
A.V. Dance Studio ’81 will offer a child-friendly haunted house, while down the street, near the Cedar Center and Western Hotel, a much creepier version will be offered; the Cedar haunted tour will feature not-so-scary attractions for the first few hours and then turn up the chills later in the night for teens and adults, according to a City press release.
At Tuesday’s press conference, youths from the Fashion Ate Rhythm dance company gave a special performance to the 80s’ hit Ghostbusters as a preview of entertainment to expect on the BooLVD. A tribute to Michael Jackson’s Thriller will be performed on the event’s main stage, located at the intersection of Ehrlich Avenue and The BLVD, at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Other entertainment for the evening will include magic shows by Godfrey the Magician and music by the “Fright Night Singers.” The event will also feature carnival games, a mini farmers’ market, a maze by the Central Christian Church, pumpkin decorating and more.
A BooLVD Costume Contest will be held for children, from infants to 12-years old, with awards for the cutest, scariest and most creative costumes. Traditional trick-or-treating will be offered by The BLVD merchants from 5 to 7 p.m.
The BooLVD Halloween and Harvest Festival takes place from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, October 29 along The BLVD between Beech and Gadsen Avenues. For more information, contact the Parks, Recreation and Arts Department at 661-723-6077.
R. BELLVILLE says
YOU PEOPLE WHO FIND EVERYTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT….NOT ENOUGH PARKING, TOO LARGE A CROWD, NOT ENOUGH CXANDY ETC ETC, NEED TO STICK YOU HEADS IN AND UNDER THE APPLY DUNK BUCKET. THE CITY OF LANCASTER IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMMUNITIES TRYING TO BETTER THEIR/AND YOURS CITY. LANCASTER CITY’S PARKS DEPARTMENT IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR THE EVENTS THEY ARE PUTTING ON OR BRINGING HERE. YOU DON’T LIKE A COMMUNITY FUNCTION ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF ENTERTAINMENT….I SUGGEST YOU STAY HOME, OR GO TO PALMDALE!
William says
I will stay in Palmdale. At least I don’t need an ‘event’ to enjoy living in Palmdale. Everday is fine here. In Lancaster, they need events to keep people from skipping town to enjoy themselves or to eat or to shop or to go to Trader Joe’s or the Yardhouse. I notice the Yardhouse didn’t locate on the fabulous BLVD.
Of course, if you need spare car parts, Lancaster does have a lot of wrecking yards.
Plus, your mayor is a loudmouth jerk while Palmdale’s Mayor Ledford is a gentleman and a great mayor. Do you take after your mayor?
Matt Keltner says
I don’t see the need for this huge rivalry between the two cities and I wish everyone would let it die.
Yeah, the YardHouse is nice and I went twice after it opened, but it’s the same sterile, cookie-cutter, corporate restaurant environment you can find anywhere. It’s basically BJ’s with more beer and a classic rock format. Lancaster is trying to do something different, something less corporate and more oriented toward small business and I say…why not? Why should the big restaurant corporations in Irvine be the only ones to make money in this Valley?
I don’t let Avenue M, er…excuse me, “Columbia Way”, determine where I go or what I do or how I spend my money.
I go to Macy’s or Dillard’s for clothes and colognes, I go to The BLVD for farmer’s markets, Barnes & Noble for books, Target off of Avenue K for shampoo, toothpaste, skin cream, etc. I like Chipotle for lunch on occasion and Trader Joes every so often, but the Whole Wheatery is good too. I would say that both cities derive an equal share of revenue from me.
I have driven around Lancaster’s west side near Antelope Valley College and, let me tell you, there are some beautiful homes and neighbourhoods around there that would rival what I have seen in West LA. Conversely, when I have been to Rancho Vista – the supposed ‘creme de la creme’ of Palmdale – I have seen yards with cars parked on the dead grass, knee-high wides and basketball hoops galore. From the walking trail at Marie Kerr Park, you can look across Rancho Vista Bl and see complete eye sores in the back yards of residences, such as half-finished, rotten balconies, trees that have never been trimmed since they were planted 20-some odd years ago, etc. And Rancho Vista is supposed to be an elite planned community? Okaaayyy!!!!???
Apparently, code enforcement for the City of Palmdale is asleep? Or, they just aren’t doing their job?
Don’t get me started on the wind-blown, ghetto, tumbleweed-infested, isolated, fire-prone joke called “Anaverde Hills” ! Gag!
Yeah, Jim Ledford is a very nice, personable guy and I like that about him. But I also like Rex Parris’ no-nonsense approach to crime and gangs. There is good in each of them.
The truth is, I have always found things to like and dislike about both cities, but if your going to keep putting Lancaster down, then Palmdale is fair game too!
William says
They show a picture of ‘scary clowns’ and there’s Parris, not in costume, as a ‘scary clown’.
S. Parker says
There goes the mayor, shooting off at the mouth again… Comparing Jim to a clown is very childish of you Rex. Now go to your room!!
Palmdale_Steve says
That clown looks nothing like Jimbo Leadbelly Mayor for Life. For one thing, it’s much too svelte.
Matt Keltner says
Sandra Johnson appears to have a better sense of humor than Sherry Marquez did, which is nice for a change!
I’m glad they are better prepared for this Halloween than last one. It was a nightmare with wall-to-wall people and the city and participating businesses ran out of candy and other treats. I don’t think that the city expected the volume of people that showed up last year.