Over $20,000 Raised for PAL At Spooktacular Drive-Thru Halloween Event

It was a spooktacular gathering of cars, candy and kids as the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) safely celerbated Halloween at the Memorial Park parking lot while raising over $20,000 for PAL on October 31.

PAL took its annual indoor "Spooktacular" celebration and created an outdoor drive-thru Halloween event for more than 140 cars so families could experience frightful scenes and scary scenarios all at a safe distance and in the comfort of their own vehicles. Leading the fright-fest was Ecto-1, the original Ghostbusters car that was flanked by a 12-feet-tall inflatable ghost and candy station, along with additional ghastly decorated police and fire vehicles, and candy stations throughout the parking lot.

Santa Monica City staff adhered to all COVID-19 safety guidelines and regulations to ensure that facial coverings and social distancing were enforced at all times.

"Our goal was to provide a safe and fun place for kids to be on Halloween albeit in a parking lot versus our traditional indoor event," says Eula Fritz, Director at Santa Monica Police Activities League. "The 'Spooktacular' event is only made possible each year with the support of our donors and sponsors and we are grateful for everyone's continued assistance."

The "Spooktacular" drive-thru Halloween event had a variety of sponsors at different levels ranging from $100 to $2,000. "Spooktacular" was open to all youth and their families.

About Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL)

The Santa Monica PAL is a nonprofit organization operated by the City of Santa Monica dedicated to providing a safe and supervised place for young people ages 6 through 17. PAL teaches skills, promotes self-respect and respect for others, and helps kids reach out to their peers and to adults. PAL provides free academic and cultural programs and a wide variety of recreational activities. Each year hundreds of youth learn to work and play in groups, with individual attention available whenever it is needed. The Santa Monica Police Activities League is located at the PAL Youth Center at 1401 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404. For more information, call 310-458-8988 or visit smpal.org.