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PDFThis morning on one of the morning news shows, they reported that the number one town in America for Trick or Treating is San Francisco, CA. I guess they have never been to Telluride. I have lived all over the United States and really, there is nothing like the SPOOKTACULAR Celebration that pretty much the entire town takes part in. Though Halloween is not an occasion I have devoted excessive amounts of time to, I recognize something special when I see it and I am sure that I live in a town that is arguably the “Best place to Spend Halloween”.
The festivities always begin with the Fall Festival at the Elementary School. A longstanding tradition, the PTSO has put on the event for the past 30 years. The entire community comes and supports the event. Of course, while the PTSO holds events for the families, you can always count on KOTO to provide an amazing concert for the adults. This year Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe with Anders Osborne performed Sticky Fingers. (Due to logistical reasons-or lack of babysitter – whatever you want to call it- I was unable to attend. I did however provide “sitting” services for mutual friends in the same position-really, why should we all stay home?) Turns out, I missed an epic event. Everyone dressed up, everyone danced and had fun until the wee hours of the morning.
Halloween Day in Telluride is a special day. At 1:00PM, I went to the elementary school to help get the kids ready for the parade. Kids in preschool through 5th grade come out and walk in a parade through town and show off their amazing costumes.
The entire town comes out to cheer on the kids while they make their way down Colorado Avenue and back.
After the parade, the kids go back to class where they have a Halloween Party. When school is over, we head home and try to steal a little rest time, and get some dinner into them.
In the midst of all of this, my youngest informed me that her costume during the parade did not really work for her and we needed to come up with something else before Trick or Treating. Ummm not joking. I did allow a last minute costume change, but before you judge me, let me tell you the story. She wanted to be a spy, and in the weeks prior to Halloween, I kept asking her what does a spy look like? We had numerous conversations about being a spy and we came up with a plan. Today during the parade she was asked 100 times, “What are you?” She got frustrated trying to explain to a bunch of 6 and 7 yr olds what a spy is and how a spy is dressed. So, I did let her change the costume. We made her into a Christmas present!
After settling the costume fiasco, we set out towards Colorado Ave and the neighborhood surrounding the elementary school with all of the hundreds of other families for a night of fun, spooky houses, and good candy. The best part was the wonderful sense of community. It was so much fun just walking down the street trying to make out who the parents are, who the kids are, greeting everyone and wishing all a Happy Halloween. It makes me feel good that I am part of a community where the primary interest on Halloween is to make it fun for the kids, but then the adults get a chance to have some fun too. Telluride truly offers fun for the whole family on Halloween.
Musicmama: One of musicmamas’s passions is music in all its forms. Based in Telluride and surrounded by excellent music, she is falling in love with new sounds every day. When not immersed in the the music scene, she loves to hang out with her two kids and hubby. Constantly surprised with what life brings to the table, the adventure continues with good music, food and family.
About Author
Musicmama: One of musicmamas’s passions is music in all its forms. Based in Telluride and surrounded by excellent music, she is falling in love with new sounds every day. When not immersed in the the music scene, she loves to hang out with her two kids and hubby. Constantly surprised with what life brings to the table, the adventure continues with good music, food and family.
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