From carnivals to contests, Halloween traditions come to life this month
by Hanalei Potempa | Contributing Writer
Spooky season has arrived on Folly Beach, and there are plenty of Halloween festivities on the calendar to get the community in the spirit. From decorated houses and a family movie night to a beloved Halloween carnival and a witches’ dance, Folly knows how to turn Halloween into a community-wide celebration.
HALLOWEEN EVE
The festivities kick off Halloween Eve, Thursday, Oct. 30, with the Halloween House Decoration Contest and Movie Night at Folly River Park. Now a Folly tradition, the Decorated House Contest began in 2020, when COVID-19 made regular Halloween festivities difficult. But the community had so much fun showing off its decorating skills that the contest stuck around — becoming a beloved Folly tradition.
Community Coordinator for the City of Folly Beach, Heather O’Donnell, shared what she enjoys most about the tradition.
“I enjoy seeing each family’s creativity and their vision coming to life. In particular, one family with children had them perform a piece that had to do with their home and yard Halloween Decoration. That was fun to see!”
And if you’re wondering who the reigning champion of the house decorating contest is, the answer is: there’s more than one!
“We have different categories of the Halloween House competition, so really everyone has a chance to win in a different category,” O’Donnell says.
After checking out Folly’s most creative Halloween homes, families can head over to Folly River Park for a free Halloween Movie Night featuring E.T.
O’Donnell shared that she always tries to pick a film that will appeal to all ages.
“The Folly Family Fun Movie Nights offer people of different generations to come together as a community and enjoy a movie together,” O’Donnell says. “I think the movies help promote neighbors getting to know one another through a shared experience and is also welcoming to newcomers or families visiting Folly Beach.”
HALLOWEEN DAY ON FOLLY
Then comes the big day. On Friday, Oct. 31, the celebrations kick off at 5 p.m. with the Folly Beach Civic Club Children’s Halloween Carnival at Folly River Park, a Folly Halloween tradition dating all the way back to the 1960s.
The carnival offers fun for all ages, with food, games and plenty of Halloween festivities — from hot dogs and chili to a cake walk and costume contest.
“It’s a festive atmosphere for all ages. There are a variety of games that will appeal to the littles as well as a basketball toss and spooky graveyard,” Amy Ray, president of the Folly Beach Civic Club, says.
The costume contest begins at 6:30 p.m., featuring an entertaining parade of costumes and multiple prizes. There are group and solo contests for different age groups, with prizes including gift cards and special surprises.
After the children’s costume contest, the grown-ups get their moment to shine. The Witches’ Dance began in 2019 as a grassroots initiative to add an adult-oriented activity to the carnival. Inspired by an international movement seen in places like Germany, the event was designed to function as a flash mob following the children’s costume awards.
“When I began it, it was to bring the adults, primarily women,” City of Folly Beach Council Member Dr. Katherine Houghton says. “Anything I can do to serve women in a fun way.”
Houghton organizes the coordinated dance, with witches dressing up in costumes and joining together for the performance. Participants can attend rehearsals in person, or, if they prefer to practice at home, video tutorials are sent out. The performance involves a circle formation around a lit cauldron with smoke effects as the lights go down. And when it comes to costumes, the witches go all out, with decorated hats, wands and brooms complete with lights.
“There can be green witches, there can be white, they can be polka dotted,” Houghton says. “So what I’m most excited about too is that it’s just so creative, a very creative way to have fun and bring people together.”
The dance has become a community event in its own right, with families and friends coming out to watch and participate.
“A lot of the women bring like their families, their husbands, their boyfriends, and they’re videoing it, and they’re just so proud and having fun — it’s very joyful.”
Anyone can join the Witches’ Dance, even without prior practice, by simply jumping in and following along with the group during the event.
For Ray, one of the things that makes Folly’s Halloween celebrations so special is the community effort behind them. She encourages anyone who wants to get involved to reach out and volunteer.
“The Civic Club Halloween Carnival is a Folly tradition that relies on volunteers – residents, businesses, local clubs and the City of Folly Beach coming together to make it work year after year,” she says. “There are so many ways to help.”
Whether you’re decorating your house, grabbing a blanket for movie night, dressing up for the carnival or joining the witches on the dance floor, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate Halloween the Folly way.
