Candy corn, orange tissue paper, thrift stores and hard apple cider; the combination of these seasonal symbols can only mean one thing: UB students are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for the perfect Halloween night.
For many students, Halloween means a venture to South campus, where there is sure to be quite a party scene on Main Street. Some students prefer to maintain the Halloween tradition of their childhood and take to the streets for some old-fashioned trick or treating.
Alyssa Wanamaker, a senior communication major, said as she's grown, her love for the spookier holiday has evolved as well as the way she celebrates.
"When I was a little kid, I loved this holiday because I would go trick or treating all dressed up with my friends and family," she said. "I still love this holiday because now I dress up and party with my friends."
Robert Pollack, a senior business major, said he feels that trick or treating would prove difficult for students living in the dorms.
"If students live at home they might go trick or treating but in the dorms it just does not work," said Pollack. "If students were to go around the dorms, they would get condoms and six packs."
While trick or treating and Halloween parties take on a different meaning than they had in childhood, one thing remains the same: the anticipation and the planning that goes into finding the perfect Halloween costume.
"One of my favorite things about Halloween in Buffalo is to go to the bar and the parties and see all the different costumes," said Melissa Bernstein, a sophomore psychology.
Wanamaker said she is going to try something for the sake of originality.
"This year I am attempting to make my own costume," she said. "I will go to Joanne's and get fabric, knowing it will take awhile for me to make."
Joanne's is a chain fabric store.
"I know a lot of students who spend a lot of money towards costumes," said Julius Spencer, a junior undecided about his major. "A lot of people go to Party City and Spencer's to get their costumes while others spend less and find costumes at Goodwill."
Jude Martin, an employee of Party City at 1565 Niagara Falls Blvd., said many college students come in to the store to purchase costumes.
"A few weeks before Halloween, the store gets very busy," said Martin. "Just about anyone comes in, but more students come in than anything."
Martin added that he often sees groups of friends wanting to dress alike, with the same costumes and make-up.
"I'm planning on dressing up with all of my housemates," said Sindy Weisinger, a senior health and human services major. "We went to Greeks N' Sneaks and got shirts made. We are aiming towards being referees so we got black shirts with white stripes on the sleeve and our last names on the back."
If being thrifty is a priority when finding a costume, getting something made may be the way to go, as Weisinger added that the referee shirt was probably her cheapest Halloween costume yet.
Amber Carlson, a supervisor at Spencer Gifts, said the best-selling costumes at her store are from popular horror movies.
"The store is definitely busy during Halloween," said Carlson. "Our biggest sellers, I think, are Pinhead masks and Michael Myers masks."
Martin said the costumes at Party City range from traditional spooky costumes to charming fairytale costumes.
Adults' only costumes also sell well.
"I got playboy bunny ears, a tail and a bow tie from Party City for six bucks," said Marisa Oberman, a junior health and human services major.
While some students are already gearing up for a night of candy and costumes, others are still undecided about their plans.
Jennifer Hein, a sophomore communication major, said she is still not sure what she is going to choose for her costume.
"I try to be creative for Halloween," said Hein, who added that if she does not find anything, she will head to the mall or other costume shops.
"I have not thought about what I should be this year," said Pollack. "Last year I was a thug, two years ago I was a woman. Maybe this year I should be a cowboy."
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
