Halloween is back for Keene, and the student community is excited.
“It’s like that quote from [the 2004 Lindsay Lohan romantic comedy ‘Mean Girls’], the one day you can dress up however you want without being judged,” said junior Grace Pisanelli.
“I’m really excited to dress up and see people in different costumes. If it’s a costume from a movie that I love, that gives me the chance to say hello and bond over a shared interest with a stranger I never would have met otherwise,” added Pisanelli.
Halloween, or “spooky season”, holds a top-tier status as the de facto comfort holiday for members of the KSC community. Previous reporting by The Equinox explored student plans for the holiday (Friday, Oct. 31) as well as the prolonged “Halloweekend”, where festivities extend throughout the weekend and sometimes beyond.
First-year student Cameron Sevin said that he’s excited to have fun, do a couple’s costume with his girlfriend and enjoy the vibe of a bona fide New England holiday.
“I grew up by the coast, and coming here is really great for getting a feel for what autumn is really like here in Keene,” said Sevin.
“I’m excited to dress up. My girlfriend and I are doing a Cinderella costume theme. There are going to be a few nights [of festivities], and I don’t know what else is going on, but it is going to be a good time,” added Sevin.
Student organizations across campus are preparing to join in on the fun, including the KSC Student Assembly, which is gearing up to host the annual “Pumpkin Palooza” on Friday, Oct. 31.
According to senior and Class of 2026 President Charlie Baxter, Pumpkin Palooza is a day for students to enjoy spooky season in a safe and fun environment open to all members of the student community. Baxter said the student government will be providing t-shirts as well as pumpkins for students to carve.
“We’re excited for a fun, pumpkin-themed event. All of the student organizations are invited to come and table, and it is going to be a lot of fun,” said Baxter.
“Keene has always had a strong, celebratory vibe. Pumpkin Palooza is a way for students to come out, have fun and celebrate with fun and safe activities that are open for everyone who wants to celebrate,” added Baxter.
Pumpkin Palooza will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Fiske Quad.
Other Halloween events at KSC include costume karaoke and an escape room event. Contact the Office of Student Involvement for more details.
Off campus, local businesses are preparing for the holiday festivities and are eager to welcome KSC students who want to break free from the nest.
Keene Cinemas 6 is offering a free small popcorn for audience members who wear costumes to see the animated musical urban fantasy “KPop Demon Hunters”, which will screen throughout Halloweekend. Various Halloween classics will also run at the theater with a reduced ticket price of five dollars, according to Keene Cinemas 6 Assistant Manager Andrew Free.
“There’s nothing like seeing these incredible films on the big screen, and we hope to see a lot of [KSC] students come out and enjoy them,” said Free.
Keene’s newest burrito restaurant and bar The Perch plans on hosting a Halloween party on Saturday, Nov. 1.
“We are trying to do this on a different day than other bars in the area so that we can be different, but also so that [KSC] students can go to the actual parties on the actual Halloween night, and then come here for our party,” said co-owner and proprietor Myles Bergin.
“Of course, the entirety of halloweekend is going to be a big deal, and we’ll be doing stuff every night like giveaways and prizes, and even a costume contest,” added Bergin.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
