Rancho Santa Fe school to hold 66th annual Halloween Parade and Carnival

The Rancho Santa Fe Education Foundation invites all community members to join school families, teachers and administration at the annual R. Roger Rowe School Halloween Costume Parade on Oct. 30. Now in its 66th year, this tradition features witches, ghosts, goblins, princesses, superheroes and more from grades K-5, accompanied by their parents.

The parade begins at 12:15 p.m. at the school on Avenida de Acacias, loops around through the center of the village on Paseo Delicias, left on La Granada and back to school. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Immediately following the costume parade is a carnival for R. Roger Rowe students and families, from 12:30-3 p.m. on the upper field and lower blacktop areas at the school. Tickets are required to purchase food and drinks along with activities such as Zorb/human hamster balls (a new attraction), face painting, balloon twisting, airbrush tattoos, cakewalk, photo booth, jail and raffle.

A wristband covers the remaining carnival fun including laser tag, carnival games, bungee trampoline, inflatable bounce house and slide, rock climbing, DJ contests and more. Wristbands are not required for adults. Tickets and wristbands can be purchased at pre-sales tables in front of the school at pickup and drop-off on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Oct. 27-29. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased in increments of 10 and cost $1 each. Raffle tickets can be purchased at all pre-sale dates and during the carnival for $1 each, or 15 for $10. Wristbands cost $20. Tickets and wristbands can also be purchased on event day, but wristbands will cost $25 on that day. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

On the morning of the carnival, RSF Firefighters will judge the Cake and Pumpkin Decorating Contests and winners will be displayed on the blacktop for all to enjoy. The top three cakes and pumpkins in each grade will be awarded ribbons.

Parent volunteer Nina Kottler, co-chairing the event for the third year in a row, says, “It is my pleasure to work on an event that is so fun for the kids and brings our whole school community together. We try look for ways to make it better every year.”