Swimming with Pumpkins at the Spooky Splash Spectacular
Akemi Rico | Social Media Editor
Over 200 floating pumpkins and a haunted house attract families for Halloween fun.
Fall season usually brings to mind sweater weather, falling leaves and cozy fireplaces. At the Santa Monica Swim Center last Friday, Oct.27, however, children of all ages celebrated Halloween by splashing about with over 200 real pumpkins and floating on inflatable sugar-skull rafts.
Joelle Simmons, aquatic program manager, says that this event is for the community and anybody beyond who wants to participate. “Two groups have donated money to help make this event successful,” she said. “Leaps and Boundz and Swim with Heart. Those programs teach swimming lessons to children who are either disabled or move, learn, communicate [or] behave differently.”
The coaches for the Santa Monica Sharks youth swim team hosted a haunted house on the sun deck of the Swim Center, where children lined up to get in and ran out screaming. Simmons said, “They have been working for the last week to set that up. I hear it’s super spooky, I’m already getting chills thinking about it and I can’t wait to go in.”
It was nine-year-old Kate Williams’ first haunted house, said her father Steve Williams. “She’s in the Sharks, swims, loves it. Our coaches are great, and it’s great of them to be putting on this event. A lot of kids are really excited about it.”
David Mendoza, administrative assistant for the photo, fashion and dual enrollment department of Santa Monica College, said, “I bring my family here, it’s a great event. The City of Santa Monica is always doing awesome things. You can’t beat it. Ten dollars for a family of four.”
