21st Annual Optimist Halloween Parade creates fun

Hundreds of goblins, ghouls, princesses, racecar drivers, Ninja Turtles, astronauts and monsters - and every character you can imagine in between - all had something in common Saturday: they all enjoyed marching in the Optimist Club’s 21st Annual Halloween Parade.

Kids of all ages first gathered at Ebell Park, where Costume Judges Robin Gillette, Santa Paula High School vice principal, and Pam Marten, the assistant superintendent of the Santa Paula Elementary School District, considered just which young ones were the parade’s top dressers.

“We’re late,” said Esther Valdez as she led a gaggle of kids in various Halloween dress - and considering the pajamas of the youngest member of the group, undress - hurriedly down Main Street to Ebell Park. The route was crowded with watchers, including those with cameras at the ready to take photos of the fun procession.

Santa Paula Police Sergeant Jimmy Fogata led the parade in a Dodge patrol vehicle. “How long have I been in the parade? Forever,” said Fogata before he drove off followed by hundreds of kids.

Downtown Merchants Association President Debbie Johnson found the procession impressive on several levels. “It’s the biggest turnout” of kids and parade watchers that Johnson said she’d seen “in years.”

Following the parade the kids were invited to enjoy candy at Veterans Memorial Park courtesy of the Kiwanis Club.

Winners were divided into categories including individual, group and grade level. Those garnering top prizes were: Cutest, Matthew Ruiz and Emma Ruiz, dressed as 1930’s gangsters Bonnie and Clyde; Scariest, Madeleine Cookson as a perfect Edward Scissorhands; and Most Original, Adam Ortega as Transformer.

Group winners were 1st Adam Lopez, Bernie Lopez and Marissa Mosqueda, 2nd Zoe Appleby and Peter Appleby, 3rd Susanne Catalano and Izzy Catalano.

Pre-school winners were 1st Noah Valencio, 2nd Emma Ruiz, 3rd Avery Grace Acosta.