October 21st, 2023 – Saturday the Clovis Veterans Memorial District celebrated the Halloween holiday with their own celebration, the “Halloween Spooktacular”. Spooktacular is held with the goal of providing family fun while offering the opportunity to meet veterans involved with the CVMD.
Families and friends alike were encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costumes, play games, and enjoy bounce houses, crafts, face painting and a trick-or-treat trail.
But this 5th Annual Spooktacular did not start on a whim, but rather has a background that includes another Clovis tradition. According to the CVMD, Clovis residents used to partake in a Halloween Costume Parade, where participants would gather in front of the Carnegie Library and parade down Pollasky Avenue.
The parade itself would then end around what is now the Liberty Ballroom at the Memorial District, which used to be the District’s former gymnasium, and involved a movie night for parade participants and the public.
CVMD Chairman Tom Wright remembered the parade saying, “The Halloween parade ended at the District and participants would gather in the gym. They dined on hot dogs, popcorn, and soda donated by downtown merchants and watched Halloween movies in black and white. They also awarded the winners of different costume categories and presented them with a candy bar for a prize.”
In remembrance and celebration of the Halloween Parade, the CVMD then began what is now known as the Halloween Spooktacular. Taking place outside on Memorial District grounds, the Spooktacular doesn’t have a parade, but did have plenty of spirited people in line with the Halloween celebration.
The District states they saw a need to continue this tradition for Clovis residents while updating the way in which it is run. The question of a possible parade in the future was not rejected, but it is not on the forefront of plans as of the moment.
Local veterans and service organizations enthusiastically agreed and generously donated resources, time and energy to help host the event with the CVMD.
The Halloween Spooktacular is a free event and open to the public and will look to take place next year as it’s sixth year in operation.
The following organizations helped the CVMD to run this year’s event.
- VFW Post 3225
- American Legion 147
- Young Marines
- Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 933
- Blue Star Mothers
- Clovis Rotary
- VFW Post 3225 Auxiliary
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters
- Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig
- Fresno County Service Officer
- CenterStage Clovis Community Theatre
- VA CDCE
- Clovis Lions Club
- DAV