Ella Suos

Two mischievous elementary boys hogging the booth stand game of ball toss while raffle tickets pile in their pockets.

LOS ALAMITOS, CA – As the leaves rustle and neighborhood houses appear more alluring with their spotted pumpkins and vibrant marigolds, Seal Beach and Rossmoor delight in the warm traditions such as Autumnfest, costume-themed school fundraisers, and artistic drives on the Seal Beach pier. Lasting from 2:30 in the afternoon to 7 at dusk, the Hopkinson Fall Carnival was another dramatic holiday celebration. Elementary students found it hilarious to cheat every booth stand game, parents seemed to be more obsessed with the raffle tickets than the restless children, and high school volunteers scattered the ground like ants.

As a prelude to Halloween, many young folks experimented with their costumes and makeup. They feasted on buttery popcorn and apple cider and possibly lost themselves in a maze of balloon playhouses, creative workshops, and pumpkin smashing. The carnival was created to support local artistry, art education, Los Al businesses, Rossmoor communities, and creative expression.

While many high school volunteers sought the festivities as a benefit on behalf of their service hours, there were some who embraced the tradition with the sentimentality of their own innocent years in elementary school.

“I volunteered at 2 to 3 of the booth stands. They catered Chick-fil-A, which was great. There were so many kids and it was great seeing them win prizes. There were food trucks and inflatables and overall, it was a great time for everyone who attended. I can’t say it brought back memories because I’m new to Los Al, although it was fairly similar to last year,” junior Caleb Heenan said.

“My English teacher last year, Mrs. Weber, always told us when there would be carnivals because her kids are in elementary school, and she says the elementary schoolers always love it when we go back to volunteer in our Griffin shirts,” junior Bella Kim said.

For anyone thinking about volunteering at a wild, adorable autumn carnival, the Hopkinson Fall Event is awaiting your love and generosity next school year!