Nightmare Before Christmas
Photos by Jeremy Sykes
The holiday season is in full swing and, like every year, this one kicked off with one of our favorite days of them all—Halloween. So we set out for Land Park’s Fairytale Town, which plays host—ghost host—to the ultimate costume party each year, drawing thousands of pint-sized pirates, snarling dragons and scary little monsters to its Lilliputian land of make-believe. There, we found, the kids’ tricks were our treats.
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Abby Martin, age 5, from Lincoln. Costume: Merida from BraveAbby’s mom Amy: “Right now, Merida is her favorite princess. She really liked the dressing-up part because she wasn’t just putting on a different dress—the wig made her look more like Merida. She is a huge Disney princess fan, so her aunt got her the [Cinderella] bag last year and she wanted to use it again.”Abby’s mom Amy: “Right now, Merida is her favorite princess. She really liked the dressing-up part because she wasn’t just putting on a different dress—the wig made her look more like Merida. She is a huge Disney princess fan, so her aunt got her the [Cinderella] bag last year and she wanted to use it again.”
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Alyssa Rose Trujillo, age 2, from Sacramento. Costume: Wonder WomanAlyssa’s mom Carrie: “This is her second Halloween. Last year, she was a cow. It was good, but she couldn’t moo much. Now she can be Wonder Woman. She loves dressing up. She keeps [flexing] to show off those big muscles.”Alyssa’s mom Carrie: “This is her second Halloween. Last year, she was a cow. It was good, but she couldn’t moo much. Now she can be Wonder Woman. She loves dressing up. She keeps [flexing] to show off those big muscles.”
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Benjamin Alberto, age 1, from Elk Grove. Costume: Captain HookBenjamin’s dad Jay: “Benjamin usually goes as a superhero, but we switched it up so he could match his sister [Tinker Bell, left]. His mom made the bucket for him because all the bags that he wanted were too big for him to carry.”Benjamin’s dad Jay: “Benjamin usually goes as a superhero, but we switched it up so he could match his sister [Tinker Bell, left]. His mom made the bucket for him because all the bags that he wanted were too big for him to carry.”
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Brayden Williams, age 3, from South Land Park. Costume: Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba!Brayden’s dad Christopher: “Yo Gabba Gabba! is one of his favorite shows, and he really likes Brobee because he sings this song about eating all of these different foods and how they are all going to a party in his tummy. It gets kids to eat foods like fruits and vegetables, so it’s kind of cute. Brayden really likes his costume. He likes to dance in it and sing.”Brayden’s dad Christopher: “Yo Gabba Gabba! is one of his favorite shows, and he really likes Brobee because he sings this song about eating all of these different foods and how they are all going to a party in his tummy. It gets kids to eat foods like fruits and vegetables, so it’s kind of cute. Brayden really likes his costume. He likes to dance in it and sing.”
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Brendan & Damian Latronica, ages 8 & 3, from Elk Grove. Costume: Polynesian DancersBrendan: “I have a big hat with peacock and parrot feathers. The hat is my favorite part of the costume. My mom made it. And we have pareos from our trip to Tahiti last year [for our grandmother’s memorial]. We’ve been to Tahiti and Bora Bora and Moorea.”Brendan: “I have a big hat with peacock and parrot feathers. The hat is my favorite part of the costume. My mom made it. And we have pareos from our trip to Tahiti last year [for our grandmother’s memorial]. We’ve been to Tahiti and Bora Bora and Moorea.”
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Brielle Davis, age 10, from Rancho Murieta. Costume: Mischief Monster“I’m a Mischief Monster. It’s a confused monster—one eye is big and one is little. I like the hat because it’s all fuzzy and pink, and my favorite color is pink.”“I’m a Mischief Monster. It’s a confused monster—one eye is big and one is little. I like the hat because it’s all fuzzy and pink, and my favorite color is pink.”
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Brookelynn Neely, age 2, from South Sacramento. Costume: BumblebeeBrookelynn’s aunt Kimberly: “She loves the costume. Her grandma tried to put her in a tiger costume, but she wouldn’t [wear] it. She said, ‘No, I’m going to be a bumblebee for Halloween.’ This is her first year trick-or-treating. She loves it. She’s very talkative, so she goes up to people and has nice conversations with them.”Brookelynn’s aunt Kimberly: “She loves the costume. Her grandma tried to put her in a tiger costume, but she wouldn’t [wear] it. She said, ‘No, I’m going to be a bumblebee for Halloween.’ This is her first year trick-or-treating. She loves it. She’s very talkative, so she goes up to people and has nice conversations with them.”
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Celesse Wisnia, age 1, from Sacramento. Costume: GnomeCelesse’s mom Catherine: “Her nickname is Gnomey-Gnome, because she’s just a gnome—look at her! Her sister Sienna was always more like an elf or a fairy, you know, but this one’s a gnome. She’s just got that little body. Oh, she loves [the costume]. And she’s leaving her hat on!”Celesse’s mom Catherine: “Her nickname is Gnomey-Gnome, because she’s just a gnome—look at her! Her sister Sienna was always more like an elf or a fairy, you know, but this one’s a gnome. She’s just got that little body. Oh, she loves [the costume]. And she’s leaving her hat on!”
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Chloe Hoig, age 6, from Sacramento. Costume: Super Dragon“I’m a Super Dragon! It’s a one-of-a-kind costume, and I made it up. It’s [based on] a game that I like to play. You save people and you throw bad guys in jail. Except I’m not just a regular dragon, but a Super Dragon!”“I’m a Super Dragon! It’s a one-of-a-kind costume, and I made it up. It’s [based on] a game that I like to play. You save people and you throw bad guys in jail. Except I’m not just a regular dragon, but a Super Dragon!”
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David Damian, age 2, from Elk Grove. Costume: MarioDavid’s mom Jessica: “He loves Mario. In his room, everything is Mario. He has the whole wall décor. All he wants to play is Mario Kart on the Wii.”David’s mom Jessica: “He loves Mario. In his room, everything is Mario. He has the whole wall décor. All he wants to play is Mario Kart on the Wii.”
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Emily Mejia, age 9, from Hollywood Park. Costume: Circus Clown“I’m a clown in the circus because they’re crazy and funky. Mom, Nana and I sewed two t-shirts together. And we made the hat. It was really hard. My shoes are my favorite part because they are so big and funny.”“I’m a clown in the circus because they’re crazy and funky. Mom, Nana and I sewed two t-shirts together. And we made the hat. It was really hard. My shoes are my favorite part because they are so big and funny.”
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Evangelina Vargas, age 5, from Rancho Cordova. Costume: Witch“Halloween is my favorite thing! I am dressed as a witch because I really wanted to wear this costume. I like the sparkles on it. I’m most excited about all of the candy that I am going to get.”“Halloween is my favorite thing! I am dressed as a witch because I really wanted to wear this costume. I like the sparkles on it. I’m most excited about all of the candy that I am going to get.”
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Gabriel Bielski, 8 Months Old, from West Sacramento. Costume: PumpkinGabriel’s mom Sarah: “I love dressing him up. He has a monkey and a banana costume and a little cowboy outfit, too. But this is my favorite. He is my little pumpkin, and I think he is the cutest little pumpkin I’ve ever seen.”Gabriel’s mom Sarah: “I love dressing him up. He has a monkey and a banana costume and a little cowboy outfit, too. But this is my favorite. He is my little pumpkin, and I think he is the cutest little pumpkin I’ve ever seen.”
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Grant LeDger, age 4, from Elk Grove. Costume: Ninja“I’m a ninja because they have swords—and because ninjas can walk on buildings. And they fight dragons. I’m going to get a katrillion [pieces of candy].”“I’m a ninja because they have swords—and because ninjas can walk on buildings. And they fight dragons. I’m going to get a katrillion [pieces of candy].”
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Gwenyth Alberto, age 4, from Elk Grove. Costume: Tinker Bell“I like the movie [Peter Pan] because Tinker Bell and Peter Pan can fly and it’s fun to watch. Tinker Bell is my favorite, favorite fairy. I like her green dress and she finds lost things.”“I like the movie [Peter Pan] because Tinker Bell and Peter Pan can fly and it’s fun to watch. Tinker Bell is my favorite, favorite fairy. I like her green dress and she finds lost things.”
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Hailee Flink, age 8, from Carmichael. Costume: Ladybug“I’m a ladybug. I couldn’t choose anything else because I liked this costume better than all the other ones at the store. I like the polka dots and the color red.”“I’m a ladybug. I couldn’t choose anything else because I liked this costume better than all the other ones at the store. I like the polka dots and the color red.”
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Kai Labson, age 8, from Greenhaven. Costume: Hot Dog“This was really the only costume that I liked, especially because it had mustard on it. Well, actually ketchup is my favorite [condiment], but we couldn’t find one that had ketchup on it, and mustard is my second favorite. People were joking that they might take a bite when I was walking around.”“This was really the only costume that I liked, especially because it had mustard on it. Well, actually ketchup is my favorite [condiment], but we couldn’t find one that had ketchup on it, and mustard is my second favorite. People were joking that they might take a bite when I was walking around.”
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Kali Ballard, age 7, from West Sacramento. Costume: Blue Fairy“I’m a blue fairy. My favorite costume is this costume because it has my favorite color on it, blue. My mom did the face painting. She did little lines and she put stickers all over it and she glued on my fake eyelashes, and she brushed my lips with white [makeup].”“I’m a blue fairy. My favorite costume is this costume because it has my favorite color on it, blue. My mom did the face painting. She did little lines and she put stickers all over it and she glued on my fake eyelashes, and she brushed my lips with white [makeup].”
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Liv Craine, age 8, from El Dorado Hills. Costume: Peacock“My mom made [my costume] out of real peacock feathers and she used fabric, cardboard, hot glue and ribbon. I like how the ribbon part ties around the waist, and the feathers are my favorite. At first I was going to be a veterinarian, but I just like all the pretty feathers.”“My mom made [my costume] out of real peacock feathers and she used fabric, cardboard, hot glue and ribbon. I like how the ribbon part ties around the waist, and the feathers are my favorite. At first I was going to be a veterinarian, but I just like all the pretty feathers.”
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Makai Williams, age 11, from Sacramento. Costume: Annoying Orange“I’m just an orange.”
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Malaya Combs, age 2, from Sacramento. Costume: FairyMalaya’s mom Sparkell: “Someone made the tutu for her birthday, but she never wore it, so I just went and got stuff to go with it. Her favorite cartoon is this fairy cartoon called Winx [Club], so she thinks she’s a fairy. She tells me she wants to wear a dress every day. She’ll wear a sweatsuit and put a tutu on top of it. She’s like the ultimate girl.”Malaya’s mom Sparkell: “Someone made the tutu for her birthday, but she never wore it, so I just went and got stuff to go with it. Her favorite cartoon is this fairy cartoon called Winx [Club], so she thinks she’s a fairy. She tells me she wants to wear a dress every day. She’ll wear a sweatsuit and put a tutu on top of it. She’s like the ultimate girl.”
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Tate Tsai, age 2, from West Sacramento. Costume: MonsterTate’s mom Kim: “This is the first year that he has been really excited about his costume. He actually asked to be a monster. Maybe it’s because I call him a monster—he’s a destructive little guy sometimes! So my mom took that and ran with it. This is all Grammy’s vision. She made the costume out of some furry stuff. And it’s got the googly eyes—so goofy.”Tate’s mom Kim: “This is the first year that he has been really excited about his costume. He actually asked to be a monster. Maybe it’s because I call him a monster—he’s a destructive little guy sometimes! So my mom took that and ran with it. This is all Grammy’s vision. She made the costume out of some furry stuff. And it’s got the googly eyes—so goofy.”
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Vinton Panboon, age 5, from Natomas. Costume: AstronautVinton’s dad Daniel: “The last few years he was mostly dressed as animals. This year, we wanted to change it up and do something that was a bit more modern and more fun. He’s interested in planets and the universe, so an astronaut fits. He is a curious kid and a very happy boy. Maybe he is an astronaut of the future.”Vinton’s dad Daniel: “The last few years he was mostly dressed as animals. This year, we wanted to change it up and do something that was a bit more modern and more fun. He’s interested in planets and the universe, so an astronaut fits. He is a curious kid and a very happy boy. Maybe he is an astronaut of the future.”
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Yasalde Jimenez, age 4, from Natomas. Costume: Count Dracula“I am Dracula. I like him because he is a vampire. Vampires suck your blood. Halloween is fun. I like to dress up.”“I am Dracula. I like him because he is a vampire. Vampires suck your blood. Halloween is fun. I like to dress up.”
This article appears in the December 2012-January 2013 issue of Sactown Magazine.
