“Halloweekend” celebrations take over Oakland

Pitt students and Pittsburgh residents took to the streets of Oakland to partake in Halloween festivities last weekend. Though Halloween fell on a Thursday this year, students extended the celebration through Friday and Saturday night. Loud music played from homes and bars as students navigated the busy streets with their friends. There was a wide range of costumes on display. While some costumes referenced pop culture or niche concepts, others disguised themselves as a classic vampire, zombie or other non-descript spooky monster. 

Halloween originated around 2,000 years ago as a Celtic harvest holiday and continues to be largely celebrated throughout America. For most students, Halloween celebrations have evolved from juvenile trick-or-treating and apple bobbing to more “adult” activities like partying or watching horror movies. However, many students still feel the nostalgia associated with the holiday. Samantha Grove, a senior psychology major who dressed up as someone from the 1970s, enjoys celebrating Halloween because it brings her back to her younger years. 

“It’s fun to see what everyone else is dressing up as,” Grove said. “It just makes you feel like a little kid again, just with everybody dressing up in costumes.”

Derek Haeussler, a junior majoring in political science, agrees that Halloween is reminiscent of childhood. While dressed up as a bottle of Heinz ketchup, Haeussler discussed the significance of Halloween. 

“I guess for me, it means just putting on a costume, spending time with some friends, you know,” Haeussler said. “Maybe going out, getting some candy, you know. Sort of like old times.”

Dressing up in costume created conversation among Oakland inhabitants. While walking through the crowded streets, costume recognition and compliments were exchanged between strangers. Students who spotted strangers in the same costume as their own did not hesitate to point it out and bond over their shared Halloween personas. The most popular costumes included cats, princesses, Minions and specifically Felix from the popular thriller “Saltburn.” 

Michael Estocin, a senior film and communications major who dressed up as Isabella from “Phineas and Ferb,” expressed the feeling of togetherness felt in Oakland last weekend. 

“I would say it’s so special because … the vibes are all so high,” Estocin said. “Everyone just loves each other on this day because people are like ‘O.M.G. I love your costume’ … so it’s just so much fun”.

As a senior, Estocin got emotional thinking about his last Halloween at Pitt. 

“It’s bittersweet because It’s just like, I’m so ready to graduate but … I’m gonna miss the vibe, the Halloween vibe,” Estocin said. “I told my friends, ‘We gotta go all out, like, it’s our last year.’” 

Lydia Crown, a resident of Bloomfield, dressed as the titular character from “Little Red Riding Hood.” Crown enjoyed seeing the variety of costumes and characters around Oakland. 

“You get to see all the pop culture moments, everybody’s costumes, things that I forgot about,” Crown said. 

Haeussler noted the dedication and quality of some students’ costumes.

“There’s some really good, well-done ones, like some ghosts, some zombies,” Haeussler said. “They’re pretty well done.”

Many revelers agreed that Halloween feels special as a college student. The holiday allows people to express their creative side and dress up in a way that they might not outside of the Halloween season. While most neighborhoods have kids trick-or-treating or elders trying to go to sleep early, a college neighborhood grants students the freedom to be as loud as they want, to wear what they feel best in and to celebrate late into the night. 

Aya Hamdaoui, a senior finance major, dressed up as her fellow finance fanatic, Patrick Bateman, from the infamous movie “American Psycho.” Hamdaoui acknowledged the freedom that Halloween grants students. 

“People still get this opportunity to dress up as somebody that they aren’t typically and really showcase their personality,” Hamdaoui said. 

Halloween weekend, more affectionately known as “Halloweekend” by Gen Zers, is a party-filled few days. Some see Halloween as an excuse to excessively drink and over-indulge. There are plenty of risks associated with busy times on college campuses like Halloweekend. It is important that students stay vigilant and keep both themselves and their friends safe. While this is true, there is more to the holiday weekend than just indulgence for some students. 

“It’s more than just an excuse to go out with your friends,” Hamdaoui said. “I grew up going [to] Halloween parades with, like, my family in elementary school, so it’s kind of like sharing those memories from my younger ages with the people that I am currently [with].”

Crown enjoyed the distinct freedom of celebrating Halloween on a college campus. 

“I think it’s so fun to, like, see the youth out and about and just, like, doing their thing,” Crown said. “It’s so fun.”