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“I love Haunted Halloween at Doheny,” said Aurora Torres ’24, president of the Mount Traditions Club, who volunteered at the event. “I loved seeing the smiles when my friends and I complimented the kids’ costumes and watching their eyes light up when I gave them their favorite candies!”

Sloane Jacobs ’24, president of the Student Government Association at Mount Saint Mary’s, also volunteered at the event. “Seeing children overjoyed and making lasting memories with their families was heartwarming,” said Sloane. “Participating as a student was a great opportunity to witness the bond of all Mount leaders and how active citizenship plays a larger role in our community”.

For many Mount students, including Aurora and Sloane, this year was their first time participating in the Haunted Halloween Campus festivities, and they were grateful to experience this event before graduating. “I will definitely come back as an alumna,” added Sloane.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Carreño-Díaz, DPPD, chief of Campus Safety, has been attending this celebration since she was a little kid herself and has fond memories of this event, which has been part of her family tradition for years. She recalls attending the trick or treating festivities every Halloween with her parents and two siblings. “As a child, the Haunted Halloween Campus was very special because it meant that someone thought of us, the neighborhood kids. At a time in which many other experiences were out of reach for us and our parents, someone brought this joyful opportunity to us, to our backyard,” said Elizabeth. “I will forever be grateful to Mount Saint Mary’s because of what it gave me every Halloween: something to look forward, a reason for a countdown, a sense of belonging.”

Elizabeth had the opportunity to attend this year’s event with her nieces and nephews for the first time. “It felt like a full-circle moment that I could have never dreamed of,” she said.

The first event in 1989 was spearheaded by Sister Anne Davis, CSJ, ’81, who at that time was overseeing Campus Ministry and Student Activities at Doheny. “During those years, the neighbors used to walk through the campus from 23rd Street to Adams Blvd. As we watched people walking along the sidewalk, we got the idea to turn the entire campus into a safe and fun place for the neighborhood children to come for Halloween,” explained Sister Davis.

What began with a few trick or treaters and a hundred pounds of candy has grown into an annual event that welcomes thousands of people and gives away over 10,000 pounds of candy every year.