CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Young ghouls, ghosts, goblins and other costumed tykes beware: U.S. military bases on Okinawa have some Halloween guidelines to ensure everyone has a howling good time.
Camp Foster and Lester officials are hosting Trunk or Treat from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30, said Lt. Col. Michael Murphy, deputy camp commander.
In lieu of opening base housing to the public on Halloween night, Trunk or Treat will have decorated vehicles staged on the street near the Haunted House in Building 5965. From the vehicles, participants will pass out candy for base and Okinawan children.
To date, Trunk or Treat has garnered 46 participants; officials hope for 100 by the night of the event, said Catrina Grougin, Camp Services secretary.
The Haunted House, which opens Oct. 28-29 for U.S. personnel and their families, also will be open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30.
During past Halloween activities, Camp Foster’s housing areas and towers were so flooded with Okinawan and American children that safety became a concern, Grougin said. Centralizing activities to one street will let military police close that street to keep children safe, she said.
Base residents can trick or treat in housing on Halloween night, but Trunk or Treat the night before will be the Foster celebration that is shared with local residents, Murphy said. Local residents who wish to attend should enter the base through Kitamae Gate.
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Courtney are not opening their gates to the public Halloween night, said camp officials. Futenma is directing Marines to attend Foster events and Courtney will hold trick-or-treating for U.S. personnel and family members only from 6 to 8 p.m. Halloween night.
Camp Kinser will celebrate Halloween night from 6 to 8 p.m. The first hour is for U.S. personnel and families; during the second hour, Gates 4 and 5 each will open for 250 local national children or a total of 50 cars, according to a release. Gate 4 is to be used to access the tower multipurpose rooms only; Gate 5, to enter the multiplexes only.
Camp McTureous will celebrate Halloween night from 6 to 8 p.m. The camp housing area will open for the public from 7 to 8 p.m. with no limit on the number of visitors, according to Camp Services.
Camp Hansen has nothing planned for Halloween, according to a Marine spokesman.
Kadena Air Base will not open its gates to the public Halloween night, but U.S. personnel still will be able to sign in eight guests, said Toma Keiko, a base spokeswoman. The escort must be a person 18 or older with status-of-forces-agreement status.
Guests will be allowed entrance to the Kadena housing areas’ Halloween celebration from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.; trick-or-treating will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Keiko said. Sponsors should give the base entry letters to the gate guards as their guests depart the installation, she said.
Base residents who plan to invite groups Halloween night must submit a list of names to the 18th Security Forces Squadron Visitor Control Center at Gate 1 by Friday, she said. More information about guidelines for Kadena’s Halloween events also can be obtained at this office.
Fright-filled schedule
Looking for some scary fun? Among events on Okinawa’s Halloween schedule (and DSN numbers to call for more information):
Oct. 26Spooky Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
Oct. 27Spooky Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
Monster Mash (children), Kadena Air Base, starts at 7 p.m. (634-0500)
Okuma’s 3rd Annual Halloween Village (all ages), Okuma, starts at 7 p.m. (631-1804)
Tengan Toga Party (adults), Camp Courtney, starts at 7 p.m. (622-9413)
Costume Party (adults), Kadena Air Base, starts at 10 p.m. (634-0644)
Oct. 28Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest (divers), Kadena Air Base, starts at 9 a.m. (634-6344)
Appetite for Murder (adults), Kadena Air Base, starts at 6 p.m. (634-1387)
Haunted House (all), Camp Foster, starts at 6 p.m. (645-7317)
Spooky Sites Tour (all), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
Okuma’s 3rd Annual Halloween Village (all), Okuma, starts at 7 p.m. (631-1804)
Fear Factor (adults), Camp Foster, starts at 7:30 p.m. (645-3681)
Scares and Dares (adults), Camp Foster, starts at 8 p.m. (645-4842)
Bayview Costume Party (adults), Camp Courtney, starts at 9 p.m. (622-9206)
Super Ladies Night Costume Party (adults), Kadena Air Base, starts at 10 p.m. (634-0740)
Oct. 29Haunted House (all ages), Camp Foster, starts at 6 p.m. (645-7317)
Spooky Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
Oct. 30Castle’s Little Creepers (children), Camp Courtney, starts at 5 p.m. (622-9413)
Haunted House (all ages), Camp Foster, starts at 6 p.m. (645-7317)
Spooky Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
Oct. 31Spooky Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 6 p.m. (646-3502)
Haunted Sites Tour (all ages), on island, starts at 7 p.m. (634-4322)
