Halloween weekend at USC means costumes everywhere.
Students are finding creative ways to get into the Halloween spirit, whether they plan to stay at the Greek Row or travel across the country.
Joann Fanticola, a junior business major, said she is spending the holiday with friends and reading to kids in costume.
“My friends and I are all dressing up and going out together,” she said. “I’m also reading books to little kids and handing out candy. One of my costumes is a rockstar.”
Lara Omololu, a junior pre-med major, is keeping things adventurous this year. She’s dressing up as a black cat, even though she’s yet to secure a vital component of the costume: the ears.
“I’m going out tonight to chase memories and maybe a few bad decisions,” Omololu said. “It’s giving spooky season delusion.”
Others are celebrating with a mix of fun and tradition.
Chloe Bennett, a junior majoring in business administration, plans to do a few different looks this year.
“I’m dressing up as some of my favorite characters: Paris Hilton and Eric Cartman,” she said. “I’m spending the night hanging out and celebrating with my friends.”
Amelia Novak, a sophomore majoring in English literature, said she’s planning to spend her Halloween night on the Row.
“I’ll be paying my respects to the fraternities on Greek Row,” she said. “I am dressing up as Elsa from ‘Frozen’ and a fembot from ‘Austin Powers.”
Lily Blankenhorn, a junior studying communications with a marketing minor, said she’s also joining the Row with her sorority sisters.
“I am going to be Serena, and my best friend is going to be Blair from ‘Gossip Girl,’ she said. “I am also dressing up as a jug of beer and Daphne from ‘Scooby-Doo.”
She said Halloween always reminds her of childhood memories dressing up for school parades.
“I loved showing off my costume in class and trading candy at lunch,” Blankenhorn said. “Now it’s the same vibe, just with a few more group costumes.”
Isabella Penta, a junior studying business administration, said she plans to celebrate close to campus.
“I’m going out with my friends around the USC area,” she said. “We’ve all planned costumes, and I’m excited to match with them for our parties, one of them being tonight.”
Penta said Halloween has always been one of her favorite holidays growing up.
“My friends and I used to plan our costumes weeks in advance and compare how much candy we got,” she said. “It’s fun that we still kind of do that now, just in a college version.”
However, not everyone plans to celebrate in Los Angeles.
Sedonee Carranza, a junior business major with a minor in real estate development, plans to spend the weekend in New York City.
“I am visiting USC friends and dressing up as a peacock,” she said. “I’ll be studying and doing interviews during the day, but at night, we dance.”
Jake Bourne, a junior majoring in applied mathematics, also plans to bring his Halloween celebrations out of state.
“I’m heading to Utah to visit my girlfriend and some friends,” he said. “I’m planning to just hang out, relax and celebrate there for the weekend.”
Brenden Zbanek, a junior majoring in communication with minors in music industry and marketing, said he was looking forward to keeping things simple.
“I am dressing up and hanging out with my friends,” he said. “It’s going to be really fun.”
Zbanek also said one of his favorite Halloween memories growing up was trick-or-treating and attending his neighborhood’s annual block party.
“Going to my street’s Halloween party at my neighbor’s house every year and fighting over king-size candy bars,” he said. “That was always the best part.”
For others, Halloween is a chance to give back to the community.
Gigi Vandenbosch, a junior majoring in public relations and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, plans to participate in the sorority’s Trick or Read event.
“We sit and give out books to kids that walk by,” she said. “It’s a cute way to celebrate and do something nice for the community.”
Vandenbosch said it reminds her of the excitement she felt trick-or-treating as a kid.
“I used to run door to door with my sister and friends, trying to fill my bag to the top,” she said. “Now it’s fun being on the other side of it, giving something out instead.”
From reading to kids to trading books for candy, USC students plan to celebrate Halloween in ways that mix creativity, nostalgia and Trojan spirit.