Cute and creepy costumes make BooFest one of a kind in Lakewood Ranch

Costumes Get Creative at Lakewood Main Street

Hundreds of community members gathered on Lakewood Main Street on Oct. 30 for the BooFest celebration, featuring an array of costumes, Your Observer reported.

For 8-year-old Quinly Collins of Lakewood Ranch, choosing a scary look was a straightforward decision. After dressing as a zombie last year, she opted for a wendigo for this year’s event. According to traditional legends, a wendigo is an individual transformed by cannibalism—frequently brought on by severe winter famine—or by profound greed, gluttony, and ethical decay.

Family Connections in the Crowd

Vanessa Lightfoot attended the celebration with her husband, Jerry, and their two children, 11-year-old Jace and 6-year-old Emma.

“Our kids saw so many people from school and we were able to connect with their parents, which was awesome,” Vanessa Lightfoot said. “Seeing all the costumes was awesome. It definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Among the younger attendees, 6-year-old Emma Lightfoot took a moment to call out “I’m your biggest fan!” to the Scooby Gang, while Sarasota’s Meadow Flagg and Parrish’s Jules and Sarah Beecher stopped by the themed photo opportunity. Other participants included Madison Hawkins, an 11-year-old from Lakewood Ranch who dressed as the Lorax, and Venice 9-year-old Eliana Brito, who appeared as a rainbow butterfly.

New Residents Join the Tradition

For some attendees, BooFest provided an introduction to local community celebrations. Having relocated to the region from New York this July, Lina Montoya brought her two girls, 8-year-old Alana and 6-year-old Gabriela, to the gathering for their very first time. She noted that Halloween ranks among her favorite times of the year.

“It’s amazing to see events like this happening in our new community,” Lina Montoya said. “It’s such a nice way to meet people, enjoy time with family and feel welcomed.”

The event also featured musical performances by Harper Weyant and Jersey Baldini of the band Heartbreaker from Music Compound. Attendees checked out Halloween-themed vehicles and interacted with community members handing out candy, including Blaine Turpin of Braden Woods dressed as Col. Sanders. Meanwhile, pet owners Michelle and Gary Saunders brought their dog, Cato, dressed as a lobster for the festivities.