As Halloween approaches, Point Loma Nazarene University students are preparing for their favorite spooky season festivities. From creative costumes to campus parties, students have plenty of plans to celebrate.
For Noah Thompson, a third-year environmental studies major, Halloween is a chance to show off his costume creativity.
“I’m going to be dressing up as Rob from Love Island, only because I have overalls, and my friend said she can draw a pretty cool snake on my arm,” he said.
Thompson said that growing up, he enjoyed making his costumes at home. Now, his favorite traditions include going to the corn maze by his house, hanging out with friends and trick-or-treating.
“Who doesn’t like candy?” he laughed.
Although he doesn’t have permanent plans yet, Thompson expects to join friends for a small get-together. He said he’s especially excited about Goodwin Hall’s annual Halloween bash. The date of the event is yet to be announced.
“It’s like Point Loma’s version of a Halloween party,” Thompson said. “It’s really fun. They play really good music, and there’s a really good DJ.”
Jonathan Raditsas, a second-year journalism major, has a Nacho Libre costume planned courtesy of his girlfriend.
“My girlfriend wants me to be Nacho Libre, and she wants to be the nun, so I’m just going to go with it,” he said.
He said he found a Nacho Libre mask during a visit to Old Town San Diego that’s perfect for the costume.
Raditsas said Halloween has always been a time to embrace cringy costumes, like when he was a Power Ranger or a dinosaur as a kid. Now, his Halloween tradition includes watching scary movies – the Conjuring movies, specifically.
While Raditsas plans to attend a Halloween party off campus this year, he’s looking forward to the excitement on campus. For him, Halloween is a time to hang out with friends and get into the spirit of the season.
For Grace Harris, a first-year media communication student, Halloween is a time for family to connect.
“I really like to go to Knott’s Scary Farm and go to the haunted mazes with my sister and my mom,” Harris said.
This year, she’s keeping her costume options open:
“I’m either going to be Bambi or Little Bo Peep,” said Harris. “I usually just shop on Amazon or Urban Outfitters.”
Harris also plans to attend the Goodwin Bash, which she’s heard great things about, she said.
“Someone told me there was a root beer keg one year, and I thought that was kind of sick,” she said. “I haven’t seen that before.”
Beyond campus events, Harris holds onto some unique Halloween traditions from her childhood back in Tennessee.
“I like to smash pumpkins,” she said. “When I was younger we would paint pumpkins and then when they would get rotten, we would just smash them.”
Check @plnu_asb on Instagram for updates on this year’s Goodwin Bash.
Grace Barrera 
Charis Johnston