NH grandmother has Halloween of lifetime thanks to social media post - WMUR

Manchester Grandmother Receives Halloween Surprise After Social Media Call

When Manchester resident Pauline Fiest, known affectionately as Meme, put on her Elmo costume to hand out candy on Saturday, she expected a quiet evening on the corner of Spruce and Cypress Street.

The neighborhood turnaround began when Fiest’s grandson, Cade Bearfield, noticed a stark lack of foot traffic past their home. Desperate to give his grandmother the festive holiday she loves, Bearfield took to social media to ask the Manchester community for backup.

“I said that everyone was welcome to come trick-or-treating at our house on Saturday because, you know, my grandmother, she sits outside in the cold, in costume every year, and, you know, she’s turning 70 and she’s going to be retiring soon,” Bearfield told WMUR. “And we just really wanted to make this a big, special Halloween for her.”

Community Response Fills the Corner Before Dusk

The online post quickly resonated across Manchester. Dozens of families arrived at the Spruce and Cypress Street home before dusk, cutting short their usual routes to make Fiest’s porch their primary destination.

“I said that’s our first stop; before we do anything, we’re going to make this woman’s Halloween special,” local resident Charlene told WMUR after arriving with her family.

Another local participant, Beatrice Whiteman, told WMUR she spotted the invitation online and decided to join in. “Thought it was a really cool thing that someone was doing and just wanted to come out and support the community,” Whiteman said.

For Fiest, who spent the evening dressed as Elmo, the steady stream of visitors offered a memorable experience. “You just see people coming and they’re smiling and they’re happy, and it doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are, everyone just seems to be having a good time. So, it’s good,” Fiest told WMUR.