Do your area schools still hold Halloween Parades?

[MommyMK]

No they haven't done anything here in at least 10 years. It's just another day at our school which I think is so sad.

Last year they made Halloween week spirit week and Halloween itself was crazy hair day which was a super pain since it meant a shower after school which was not something we needed to add to the agenda.

My kids' school does not have class parties either, no food is allowed in the classrooms ever, cafeteria only. Each grade gets two grade level parties a year in the cafeteria and that's the extent of any celebratory events.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yup! It's full on Halloween for us!
The kindergarten-grade three classes parade around the school right after lunch through the grades 4-6 classes. Everyone dresses up including teachers. No weapons allowed, but masks, makeup and scary costumes are allowed.

 

[tvguy]

Our school banned anything Halloween related a few years ago. They have a "harvest" party the Friday before Halloween. No references (books, crafts, bingo, etc.) to Halloween are allowed. It's ridiculous, IMHO.

Same here in the public schools. The word Halloween is forbidden. It's "Harvest Festival".
Some Christians considered Halloween devil worship.
Some Atheists felt Halloween was a religious holiday.
Some Satanists felt Halloween mocked their Deity.
And yes, the last 3 sentences were actually issues raised when the name Harvest Festival was put in use.

 

[lesliekatya]

Yup, we have a parade and parties (in elementary school). The teachers dress up too. No weapons. We call it the fall festival, but it's still very Halloween-y. Nothing for junior or senior high, though.

 

[Kenny1113]

Nope. When my kids where in elementary school it was storybook character parade.
I agree with a pp who said it was a pain trying to figure out two costumes.

Love to see that there are still some schools celebrating Halloween!!

 

[christineann]

My kids' school is an independent school with ties to the Episcopal church. We have always had a Halloween carnival that is put on by the parents and school clubs after school. Before the carnival starts, grades 1-3 have a parade through the campus. The first graders are escorted by the seniors, who also dress in costume.

 

[pat fan]

None here. ONE parent complained a few years ago, so no more dress up. They switched to black & orange day where you wore...black & orange. We had a SUPER PC principle a few years ago and i think black & orange was too much for him, so he started making that Friday of Halloween an inservice day so there was no school at all. This is the first year we've had school on a Halloween Friday in a while, but I know there will be no costumes and I haven't heard anything about black & orange either.

Don't get me started on the PC Principles Christmas decree either.

 

[Cantw8]

Same here in the public schools. The word Halloween is forbidden. It's "Harvest Festival".
Some Christians considered Halloween devil worship.
Some Atheists felt Halloween was a religious holiday.
Some Satanists felt Halloween mocked their Deity.
And yes, the last 3 sentences were actually issues raised when the name Harvest Festival was put in use.

yep, same here...so sad. The Halloween parade at school was my favorite thing to do when I was a wee lass

 

[tvguy]

yep, same here...so sad. The Halloween parade at school was my favorite thing to do when I was a wee lass

I never had a parade as a kid, nor did my kids. But we all could celebrate Halloween.

 

[clori]

Here I think it is just kindergarteners who parade around school in costumes. We used to do the traditional parties with food but now we can't have "junk" food during school time so the kids just some fun holiday activities. It is called Halloween. There is usually a Sunday afternoon party at the school though it is technically sponsored by a school board rep. They have some food like decorate a sugar cookie and Halloween crafts as well as pizza/drinks. There is a dj who plays Halloween and party type music. Kids come in costume and there are some costume prizes. Near the end parents come and stand in a giant circle and pass out candy to the kids as they trick or treat in the circle. The public high school allows appropriate costumes without masks, facepaint, or big hats. Some teachers activately promote costumes and some teachers/staff wear a costume. While high school has the same no "junk" food rules some teachers don't exactly follow it that day.

 

[tcufrog]

My younger son's hippie Montessori school doesn't allow costumes. The day of or before Halloween is usually field trip day which is a pain because parents are expected to take their kids on the field trip. It's a very exhausting field trip to to a safari park that's very far away. Last year when it was scheduled for the day of Halloween I wasn't happy about it because my preschooler was exhausted afterwards. They do have a really fun Saturday fall festival though. My older son's school has a Halloween Carnival usually the night before Halloween. The day of the carnival kids are allowed to wear their costume to school although masks and weapons aren't allowed. Either the day after Halloween or the day after the carnival the kids are out of school and it's parent/teacher conference day. Paid child care is available all day and free child care is available during your conference.

 

[dotfurio]

The district where my kids go no, the one where I work, yes.

 

[Styx Fan]

I am in Southeast MI, in a very large school district. Our elementary still has Halloween. Either there is a half day of school so the party is much of the morning or it is the last couple of hours in the afternoon. The school is pre-school through 6th grade and everyone is welcome to dress up. Most teachers do too. Like everywhere, no weapons are allowed or anything too gory, but masks and face paint are OK. The kids parade around the outside of the school or the gym, parents etc welcome to attend. After the parade, each class has their own party, some teachers have a yearly theme and ideas and parents come and help...other classes leave it up to the parents with certain guidelines.

Had to laugh about all the schools where kids must dress up as book characters. I have had kids in this school for about 15 years and for most of those years the principal (and there have been 3) has said something in the newsletter about how "last year we had some great costumes based on book characters and we encourage those again"....Ha!....if we have ever had a book character, it was by accident...like Cinderella, etc. Most would be at best where the character came from a movie or tv show, then books followed. Or the movie or tv show was based on a book, but the kids have idea about the book. But the principals keep trying!

 

[puffkin]

Most of the public schools here do not have a Halloween parade, but a few still do. Its more the exception than the norm though. My DS is in 4th grade and never had one. It is up to the teacher if they want to have a "harvest party" in class, but otherwise it is pretty low key. His before/after school program lets them dress up after school and they do a party.

My DS3 is in pre school/FT daycare. His center does a Halloween parade on the playground with all the kids and then each classroom does a party. My older DS went to the same daycare and it was the same when he went through.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes! Kids go home for lunch for a couple of hours, and come back in costumes (no weapons is the only rule, teachers dress too, different theme every year). Then they have class parties, with candy and homemade treats. Parade goes through school neighborhoods, and then kids go TOTing right from school.

 

[Dawnlight]

When my kids were in a private school they did not celebrate Halloween in any way; they did dress up and celebrate for Purim, though.

In their public schools there is no parade, but the kids are allowed to dress up. It depends on the teacher and grade whether there is a party or not; last year there was no party, just a small in-class craft. I don't know what will be this year, but I do know that they don't allow candy to be distributed. The school did have a fundraiser last year in the evening where the PTO decorated hallways in the school and those attending were charged a small fee; I think there were snacks provided as well.

I'm fine with kids not having the holiday (or any other) celebrated at school; those who do recognize and celebrate the holiday can do so at home with family, friends, and neighbors. Halloween is EVERYWHERE this time of year, I hardly think that kids feel they miss out on something extraordinary if they don't have a celebration at school; the big deal is the trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

 

[indimom]

No parades; but, the kids have class parties and are allowed to dress in costume. The only rules are no weapons and no masks (they can paint their face, just nothing that might make it hard to see).

 

[mom2rtk]

Our city has a full fledged Halloween parade on the town square. High school bands (dressed in costume), floats from scout groups, political candidates, dance groups and service organizations. It's fun.

 

[missbrooke06]

None here. ONE parent complained a few years ago, so no more dress up. They switched to black & orange day where you wore...black & orange. We had a SUPER PC principle a few years ago and i think black & orange was too much for him, so he started making that Friday of Halloween an inservice day so there was no school at all. This is the first year we've had school on a Halloween Friday in a while, but I know there will be no costumes and I haven't heard anything about black & orange either.

Don't get me started on the PC Principles Christmas decree either.

Do you watch South Park? This season, there's a new character named PC Principal.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Yes, costumes, parade around the block that the school sits on, and afternoon classroom party - but no food treats or face paint/makeup.