Pint-sized witches, goblins and ghouls packed the PMAC Sunday, donning their costumes a couple of days in advance and trick-or-treating with LSU athletes at the eighth annual Halloween Boo-zar.
Kristen McFadden, Assistant Director of the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, said the Halloween Boo-zar is an annual event presented by the LSU Athletic Department.
The CHAMPS, Challenging Athlete Minds for Personal Success, is a program that allows student-athletes to participate in community service and outreach projects, such as the Boo-zar.
“Many children in the East Baton Rouge area view LSU student-athletes as role models,” McFadden said. “This event gives kids a chance to meet their favorite athletes while playing games and collecting candy.”
The trick-or-treaters also have the opportunity to collect the student-athletes’ autographs.
Upon entering the PMAC the kids surrendered a canned food donation for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Drive.
Student worker Lauren Williams said this canned food donation provides the kids with free admission to the Boo-zar.
The participants then picked up an autograph sheet and made their way around the PMAC to visit each sport team’s table.
Members of each team were seated at each table to pass out candy and sign each autograph sheet.
There also is a corresponding activity for the children to participate in.
For instance, the volleyball team set up a child’s net and refereed a mini-game between the teams of mini-athletes.
Kelly Phelan, a member of the gymnastics team, said she really enjoyed participating in this year’s Boo-zar.
“It’s a great way to promote the LSU gymnastics team and gymnastics in general, while meeting kids in our community,” she said.
McFadden said in the past the event had been held on Oct. 30 in the Field House.
“We thought that moving the event to the beginning of the week would make it easier on the parents and increase the number of families participating,” she said.
McFadden said having it on the weekend would give parents more time to prepare versus the lack of time working parents have during the week.
“After beating traffic to rush home and get their child ready for the Boo-zar these parents would have to go through the same routine again the next night for Halloween,” she said.
McFadden said the location of the Boo-zar changed to give participants and each team more space.
Beverly Shaw, the mother of 10-year-old Jacob, said this was her fourth year participating in the Boo-zar.
This year she invited her sisters and told them to bring their children.
“I liked it better in the Field House, because you had a better view of all the teams showcased,” she said. “But regardless of the location, the event is both safe and fun for the kids, and that is what’s most important.”