Celebrating Halloween abroad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  No candy.

What do you mean Halloween isn't celebrated everywhere?

As a chocolate lover, finding this out is equivalent to having no presents on my birthday. Even worse, this would mean no costumes.

Thankfully in Germany, Halloween will be upon us and the 52nd Fighter Wing is offering a variety of ways to celebrate, or in other words, people of all ages can dress up to get candy. The events are more than one day.

Unfortunately, there are some events I can't attend because I'll be at work. For those not working Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m. there will be a Halloween celebration and parade at the base library.

Fortunately there is another event after I get off work Oct. 28. This event is a Halloween party and costume contest at 6:30 p.m. at Club Eifel. There will also be a pumpkin carving contest at 7 p.m. So, it's time to come up with a unique costume and a unique pumpkin design.

For those that would like to play Halloween games, there is also Halloween lock-in for children ages 9-13 at the Bitburg Teen Center in Bldg. 58 Oct. 29 from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. It will include art, games, movies and tournaments.

Now for something a little spookier. There will be a haunted house Oct. 27 - 29 at the French Casern at the Bitburg Annex in Bldg. 2032 and 2033. Thankfully, for the faint of heart like me, there will be two versions of the haunted house. The one I will be attending starts at 6 p.m. and involves less scare tactics. The one that would leave me shaking starts at 7 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

For the history buffs and travelers, there will also be a family ghost tour in the very old, we're talking thousands of years old, castle in Cochem, Germany Oct. 29 sponsored by Information, Tickets and Travel. A castle that old has to have its share of ghosts, so I'm sure the trip will be worth it. The bus departs Bitburg at 12:30 p.m. and Spangdahlem at 1 p.m. The cost is 37 Euros for adults and 32 Euros for children age 3 -17.

If you're like me and ghosts aren't your thing, there will bowling at Eifel Lanes Bowling Center on Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. - close.

Now for the costumes and the candy. I'll have to dress up like an M&M to honor both of these wonderful things for trick-or-treating Oct. 31 from 6 - 8 p.m. in base housing.

I'm thankful to be stationed at a base that provides me with various ways to celebrate my favorite holiday.