CHEEK.,
LANC., DEPEW|
CHEEK.,
LANC., DEPEW |
Contributed by: Buffalo.com/YourHub Candace Filipski
on 10/29/2007
With
Halloween just around the corner, area businesses have kicked off their
annual events, with plenty of ghoulish attractions for kids and kids at
heart. Some promise to scare and terrify, while others just guarantee a
fun and exciting time for all. Book retailer Borders kicked off the
Halloween season this week with a string of national events at their
stores, The Halloween Spooktacular. Although each store in the chain
hosts its own holiday festivities every year, this is the first time
that every Borders store in the country has hosted a unified event.
With Halloween parties offering music, candy, games, and more, Borders
promises a good time for all little ghosts and fairy princesses across
the nation.
Saturday afternoon was the scene for our local Halloween Spooktacular at the Borders in Cheektowaga, across from the Walden Galleria. The event was hosted by Matt Surowiec, a local entertainer who hosts parties for children through his "Matt's Music For Kids" programs. Although Matt began performing over fifteen years ago, this was his first Borders Spooktacular show. He kicked it off by introducing himself to the kids, and making jokes about "what we do on Halloween," cross-referencing activities done on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and even Valentines Day, which brought gales of laughter from the exuberant group of kids, all of whom were decked out in a number of creative costumes.
The next segment of his show included music played by Matt on his guitar, and even accompaniment from the kids who received maracas and tambourines to play along to the festive holiday tunes. Halloween trivia included questions about trick or treating, pumpkin carving, and even questions about Nickelodeon television shows, Disney, sports, and for the kids who had yet to win prizes, "what is your favorite color?" which awarded them the miniature alien that all prize winners delighted in receiving.
After the limbo contest, "Monster Freeze," and dance off, there was a costume contest which awarded kids trophies based on the criteria of "scariest costume," "funniest costume," and "most original," with each category having a boy and a girl winner. Seven-year-old Rachael Estelle who came as a flashy little devil took the female prize for scariest costume. A Spooktacular first timer, Rachael also left the event with three wins from the trivia section of the show. Stealing the prize for funniest costume was three year old Hayden Kowalski, whose skeleton costume would have awarded him in the "scary" category for the boys, had he not been as endearing to the judges; Hayden delighted in scaring fellow party-attendees and hosts throughout the course of the show. At any given moment, you could expect to hear a "roar" or a "grrr" from the tiny tyke. On the opposite end, eight year old Kelsey Lobecki won the funniest costume for the girls. According to her mom, Borders is Kelsey's "favorite store," and with an event as spectacular as the Spooktacular, it is easy to see why it was their Halloween event of choice this weekend.
To cap off the show, "wicked witch" and store associate Paula Au led the kids on a trick or treating parade throughout the store, with treat or trick stations set up at several different locations. The kids finished off the event with bags full of candy and prizes, and plenty of laughter and excitement.
Matt Surowiec does an array of children's shows throughout the Western New York Area, and often performs at coffee houses and middle schools.
For more information on Borders events, check out their web site at www.BordersStores.com.And for information on Matt Surowiec's "Matt's Music For Kids" or if you would like to book him for a show, check out his web site at www. MattsMusicForKids.com.