Costume contest lets students show off their Halloween costumes
Vaclav Fiala (right) dressed as Optimus Prime for the contest, and is pictured here with Abby Braun (left).
Photo Credit: Maximus Fritsche
By Maximus Fritsche
Halloween brought 34 students dressed in various costumes to Junior Vaclav Fiala’s costume competition in Thom main street on Saturday night.
Fiala had a lot to say about how the event was organized and who all made it possible.
“In July, when I started building my Optimus Prime costume for Halloween, some of my friends told me I should host a Halloween costume contest,” said Fiala. “I thought it was a joke at first, but when I went to SLO and talked to them about it, they approved of it. I then went around throughout the past few weeks and hired judges for a competition and put the event together.”
34 students attended the event. Some dressed up for the competition, and others came to see the creative ideas that other students had. Students’ costumes included DC’s Teen Titans, Optimus Prime, clowns, characters from fairytales, and anime characters, as well as others.
Junior William Voelker got to show off a fancy tie when he dressed as an art professor.
“I decided to dress up as an art professor since I had this really cool tie I wanted to wear,” Voelker said. “Since my roommate is hosting the event, I figured I would show up to support him.”
A panel of judges, handpicked by Fiala himself, critiqued the students’ outfits. Junior Kennedee Canales, Fiala, senior Timothy Baker, and sophomore Emma Fiala were chosen to critique student outfits.
The costumes were given ratings for most effort, cutest couple, best character, funniest, scariest, most creative, and best group.
“The judges walk around silently and interact with the people to get a better judgement of the competition,” Vaclav Fiala said. “Later in the night, they announce the winners. Students of course don’t have to sit for the full 2 hours and are welcome to leave and come back to hear about who won the competition.”
Emma Fiala showed interest in the different ideas students came up with for their Halloween costumes.
“It’s interesting to see everyone’s costumes and learn about what people like to do in their free time,” said Emma Fiala. “I got to see my brother in an Optimus Prime Costume. What’s not to like there?”
Baker was especially happy to help judge and dress up for the event when he found out Vaclav Fiala was hosting the event.
“I am honored to be selected as a judge,” Baker said. “When I heard Vaclav Fiala was hosting it, I agreed to help out. I came dressed as Red Guy. He’s a character in a British horror puppet show from 2022. The Optimus Prime costume is quite good as well.
The winners were selected by the panel of judges at 9:30 p.m.
Freshman Robert Brown and freshman Lucy Eggleston won the award for the cutest couple. Sophomore Andrew Kohlmeyer won the best character award with his costume of Marvel’s Spider Noir.
Junior Caylen McCoy won the funniest award with his Greg Teakettle costume from the TV show “Over The Garden Wall.” Senior Marieka Broudy won the scariest award for her clown costume. Junior Rachel Rathjen won the most creative award for her tourist costume.
Sophomore Mason Lockwood, sophomore Mia Hume, sophomore Ayden Toth, sophomore David Rodriguez and sophomore Bailey Boschert won the best group award for their dress up as DC’s Teen Titans.
People trickled out of the building after the event.
“I like seeing people’s creativity in costumes,” Vaclav Fiala said. “If all goes well, I’ll do it again next year. I do hope to have a better team of organized people next year.”
