- February 13, 2025
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Atlas Jackson, 4 and Neo Jackson, 2, came dressed as robots.
Photo by Ian SwabySean Johnston and Sophie Johnston, 3, came in complimenting costumes.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Mangrove Walkway was decorated for the event.
Photo by Ian SwabySisters Addie Lesnick, 5, Ellie Lesnick, 5 and Penny Lesnick, 7 came as the Sanderson Sisters.
Photo by Ian SwabyRachel Denton; Tami Lanham; her husband Philip Lanham, who is president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Emily Joslin were among those who staffed the foundation's trick-or-treat stations.
Photo by Ian SwabyTricia Ward, Violet Ward, 8 and Jerod Ward came dressed as characters from Disney's "The Descendants."
Photo by Ian SwabyTim and Heather Saba came as Bob Ross and a painting.
Photo by Ian SwabyAriel Gibbs, 6, holds her decorated pumpkin.
Photo by Ian SwabyPamela Leon, Atlas Leon, 2, Arlo Leon, 1 and Joseph Leon
Photo by Ian SwabySilas Devereuz, 9, Angela De La Rosa and Wells Faulkner, 1, work together on a Jenga tower.
Photo by Ian SwabyMatt Manahan, Russ Bechtloff and Karen Mills.
Photo by Ian SwabyCharlotte McKinniss, 5, plays on the Ibis Playground, where the two ibises, Sara and Zota, wore witches' hats.
Photo by Ian SwabyJames Cowgill, 3 and Zeke Fernandes, 3, trick-or-treat at one of the stations by Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Photo by Ian SwabyLily Reusch, 6, practices her hula hooping skills.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe event drew a large turnout.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Ward family always attends Fright Night at St. Armands Circle, but the popular event was cancelled this year due to Hurricane Milton.
As a result, they decided to attend Boo! at The Bay | Family Halloween Celebration, another popular celebration where they could gather with the community in costume.
The family, including Tricia and Jerod Ward and their daughter Violet Ward, 8, came dressed as characters from Disney's "The Descendants," accompanied by Violet's cousin Izac Bermudez, 13.
Held at The Bay on Oct. 25, the event, now in its third year, drew a large turnout of kids and adults.
“Isn’t this a great turnout?” said attendee Karen Mills. “I think people just wanted something wonderful after the storm. We needed happy.”
On offer were trick-or-treating stations by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, many of them located on a "not-really haunted" decorated trail on the park's Mangrove Walkway.
Other offerings included free pumpkins for the first 1,500 kids with Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation teachers to assist with decorating, as well as food trucks, a screening of “Despicable Me 4" and a sensory-friendly experience with reduced crowds and noises.
“We usually come to this event every year since it started,” said attendee Marc Jackson. “The kids love it. They love this park. They love when they do the thing with the witches’ hats on the (Ibis Playground).”