The Office of Community and Civic Engagement hosted its annual Spookapalooza festivities Oct. 25-Nov. 1.
The Halloween spirit was on full display at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Office of Community and Civic Engagement’s annual Spookapalooza, a weeklong Halloween celebration for the entire family held from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. The event brought an array of spooky, creative, and family-friendly activities to West Baltimore —culminating in a festive trick or treat party — centered at the UMB Community Engagement Center (CEC) on 16 S. Poppleton St.
“Our office embraced the Halloween spirit with Spookapalooza,” said Dionne McConkey, MSW, program specialist at OCCE and the lead organizer for the event.
McConkey said that the fun began with a Haunted Family Movie Night that allowed families to enjoy a spooky film along with popcorn, pizza, candy, and prizes. “One lucky little neighbor was crowned as the best costume winner by popular vote and went home with a special prize for her impressive Halloween look,” she noted.
The week’s activities also included seasonally themed workshops, starting with a fabric pumpkin-making class where participants crafted pumpkins in warm fall colors and embellishments. An autumn wreath-making session allowed attendees to create beautiful, custom wreaths to welcome the season, while a “Make & Take” event gave neighbors the chance to design their own tote bags, adding personalized text and fall-themed decorations to create a unique bag.
Spookapalooza culminated on Friday, Nov. 1, with the highly anticipated Trick or Treat with UMB, now in its third year. During the party, UMB staff, students, and community partners set up more than 30 trick-or-treat stations. Costumed children and families, from princesses to superheroes, visited each table, gathering treats and enjoying games and music.
Over 250 community members attended the culminating event, and representatives from UMB’s seven schools — including Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Social Work, Law, and the Graduate School — as well as UMB administration and the University of Maryland Medical Center joined in. While not every school hosted a table, at least one volunteer from each was present, demonstrating broad support across the University for the event.
“We wanted to create a safe, free, and festive Halloween experience,” McConkey said. “Our goal is to strengthen community bonds and reflect OCCE’s mission to foster partnerships and support the needs and interests of neighbors.”