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Dodging drizzle, kids dressed in Halloween costumes Sunday for the third annual Olympia Farmers Market costume contest. In the newborn to 5-year-old age groups, roughly 25 children dressed as cats, vampires, dragons and fairy tale and movie characters and walked the stage to be judged.
Four-year-old Kailei Dillman had one hoot of a costume. Wearing a purple owl hat with big eyes and a homemade costume with wings made from an old T-shirt, Kailei was all set to fly but was a little hesitant going on stage for judging.
“They’re both a little shy,” said his mother, Sheri Dillman, adding that 2-year-old Takeo, dressed as Spider-Man, might not have the nerve to get on stage either.
For the Steffen family of Rochester, the farmers market was the second of three trick-or-treating adventures planned for daughters Madeline, 2, and Natalie, 6. They went out the night before and plan to hit the Olympia streets once again tonight on Halloween.
Natalie, dressed as a fairy princess, said she already had her “dress-up” dress picked out and needed only some wings to finish the costume. She couldn’t wait to fill her bucket with her favorite candy: Snickers.
Mom Autumn Steffen said the family rules for candy consumption are lenient on Halloween but then drop to one piece a day thereafter.
Between contests, families went trick-or-treating through the market, where vendors also were dressed up.
While many children and their costumes were downright sweet – including one girl who was dressed as Strawberry Shortcake – others were scary enough to send a chill down your spine.
Julian Balsley, 3, went as Ghost Rider from the Marvel comic series. He dressed the part in a leather jacket, wrapped in chains with black-and-white face paint and fire-red hair. His father, Sam Balsley, said he got the idea when Julian dug through a DVD collection and pulled out the movie featuring the character.
The judges were terrified, awarding Julian the scariest costume for his age group. Julian is no stranger to the contest – he won for his age group last year dressed as a spider.
Stephanie Johnson, who has judged the competition all three years and works for the city, said she likes seeing families come together and have fun with their children.
“The kids are always so cute,” she said. “It’s a great community event.”
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476
nhulings@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
