Sasha Nikanova / Daily Nexus

As the most sinister night of the year approaches, students at UC Santa Barbara are getting into the spirit of Halloween, starting with the Associated Students Program Board’s Spooky Spectacular at Storke Plaza on Oct. 16.

The plaza, transformed into a spooky field of pumpkins, was buzzing with enthusiastic chatter and live music performed by local band Eternal Wave.

Sasha Nikanova / Daily Nexus

The group performed some of their original songs, filling the atmosphere with a soft and relaxing tune — a perfect place to de-stress and hang out with friends during a busy week of midterms.

The event provided students with the supplies to paint their own pumpkins, which was a rewarding (and ego-satisfying) experience for the creative community of UCSB. Third-year religious studies major Alexis Niccoli represented her upcoming Halloween costume by decorating her pumpkin with little ghosts.

Though she initially came to the event only for the live music, Niccoli ended up loving the event and all it had to offer, including the “shutter bus” that took Halloween-themed Polaroid photos of students and their pumpkins.

First-year pre-biology major Grethell Davalos volunteered at the event, managing the shutter bus while getting into the Halloween spirit. Although she didn’t wear her costume to the plaza, she definitely will on Halloween as Max Goof, the son of Disney character Goofy.

The shutter bus was a clever parody of a photo booth where students could pose for four Polaroids decorated with pumpkins and spider webs. Students were beaming with anticipation as they waited in line to take pictures, rehearsing the scary poses they were going to perform for the camera.

Those who prefer spending time outside under the sun grouped together on the steps of Storke Plaza, showing off their artistic talents. Several students, including fourth-year environmental studies major Allison Duffy and fourth-year psychological & brain sciences major Amairany Gonzalez, came to the plaza to unwind before a week of midterms.

Sasha Nikanova / Daily Nexus

It is worth noting the hard work and dedication that the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) put into the event, making it a welcoming and entertaining space for all students to enjoy. Savina Gutierrez, a third-year communication major and the cultural events coordinator for ASPB, wished to give back to the community this year by organizing a giveaway raffle consisting of three baskets full of candy, plush toys and scented candles.

Gutierrez expressed her excitement for Halloween, especially for the Delirium concert on the evening of Oct. 24. For those who missed the Spooky Spectacular at the plaza, this wasn’t the last chance to get involved with Halloween spirit on campus. There are still many Halloweekend festivities to come, such as the “Night of the Living Dead” outdoor screening, Delirium and more.

Sasha Nikanova / Daily Nexus

It is always interesting to watch how people prepare for a specific holiday, because the sets of values, traditions and habits can reveal a lot about a community. What the Spooky Spectacular event brought to light about UCSB’s students is that, while everyone has their own differences and interests, something as silly as a night filled with costumes and candy can bring everyone together. It is beautiful to think about and even more rewarding to experience firsthand.

There will always be time to live seriously, but there are only so many opportunities to be a carefree UCSB student, meandering across campus in a bloodied ghost costume and wreaking havoc to the mental sanity of innocent bypassers. And so, it is now officially declared that Halloween has begun. Be prepared.

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