City Of Santa Cruz: Festivities Focused On Kids, COVID-19 Safety For Halloween 2021

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz:

10/08/2021 2:51 PM

Santa Cruz, CA – While some festivities will be coming back this year, the City of Santa Cruz encourages residents and visitors to heed Center for Disease Control guidelines to keep trick-or-treating outside, limit crowds and avoid crowded Halloween parties.

Downtown businesses will once again welcome kids for the annual trick-or-treating tradition from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. However, to limit crowds in Downtown, Pacific Avenue will remain open to vehicular traffic, unlike past years when it has been blocked for pedestrian use. Additionally, a Citywide Safety Enhancement Zone will be in effect, tripling fees for violations such as littering, blocking pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and public alcohol consumption.

Other Opportunities for Halloween Fun

13 Days of Halloween | The Santa Cruz Wharf will host 13 days of frightful fun, October 19–31. Visitors can take part in the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a photo at our scenic photo booth, and enjoy festive Wharf specials. All the events culminate with the annual Trick-o-Treating on the Wharf on Oct. 31 from 3-6 p.m.

Creepy Carnival at London Nelson | The traditional Halloween Festival is back at the London Nelson Center, including mask-making and a child-friendly Big Top Performance in Laurel Park. Free entry from 12-4 p.m. For those seeking a more frightening experience, join for an even scarier version of our Big Top performance from 6-8 p.m. Admission $5. It is not recommended for children under 12.

Halloween Horrors Film Competition | Santa Cruz is known as a popular backdrop for classic horror films. Check out films from local Santa Cruz filmmakers in the London Nelson Community Center’s Halloween Horrors Film Competition. View films in the categories of Original Horror Short and Horror Film Scene Remake. Visit nelsoncenter.com and click on the Halloween Experience link to view entries and vote for the next Santa Cruz horror film classic.

Costume Family Roller Party, Oct. 28 | The Downtown Association will host a Costume Roller Party on the parking lot roof deck located at the corner of Walnut Ave., Cedar and Church Streets. Bring your own skates, blades, boards and scooters! Bring beach chairs too, for comfort. Thanks to local sponsorship, there’s no charge to participate!

Citywide Safety Enhancement Zone

 A citywide Safety Enhancement Zone will be in effect from 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, through 7 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, for the Downtown footprint. The safety enhancement designation authorizes the tripling of fees for violations of the City’s municipal code, such as littering, blocking pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and public alcohol consumption.Every available officer will be proactively enforcing all violations designated for triple fines under the Safety Enhancement Zone. Examples of triple fine violations include:

If residents or visitors witness violations, the Santa Cruz Police encourages them to call the non-emergency line (831) 471-1131 to report the incident. 

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This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author’s own.