The event ran from 11am until 5pm, with Halloween activities including trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching scary Movies.

Guests enjoyed an array of food & beverage from the Himawari chef and team. They also enjoyed many types of games at game stalls and craft booths like face painting, clay art, song and dance and there was even a bouncy castle which proved very popular.

Mr. Andrew Tay, Director of Himawari Hotel Apartments, said “It is more than 5 years since our first Halloween event here at Himawari Hotel Apartments. It’s a special day because it brings parents and their children together in an enjoyable environment. Although the theme is a bit scary the children do have a great time and we had a great turnout. He adds more “We hope that next year’s event will prove even more popular and we can draw even more families. This year was a bit special because SCIA International School partnered with us to organize the event so a big thank you to them for being part of the day.”

Mr. Edward Tiu, Deputy Head of Student Admission and Recruitment, Admission and Community Engagement of SCIA International School said, “SCIA is Singapore Cambodia International Academy endeavors to be the leading institution that prepares individuals to be future-ready, maximizes their potential and opens doors in life through education.  SCIA is a member of Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Group, the leading provider of a diverse range of education pathways and professional training in Singapore.”

He adds more “This is the first time that we are organized the Spook – Tacular Children’s Halloween Party with Himawari Hotel Apartments, we are happy to work with Himawari Hotel Apartments as they strongly support our school. We excepted this very successful event at Himawari Hotel Apartments because we were confident together we could put on a party that people really enjoyed. As is the way with international schools we encourage children to experience the vibrant culture of Cambodia but also we encouraging them to join different international events. Halloween seems like the perfect celebration to achieve that.

Halloween is a traditional Western celebrated annually in October to commemorate the departed soul. The festival has been celebrated for more than 200 years in European countries such as the United States, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries, which are usually held on the weekend before or after a date. For their activities, they often use carving pumpkins, haunted houses, painted ghost faces, dressed in strange ghosts, decorated Halloween dishes.

Recently Halloween is not only celebrated in Europe and it is also popular in Asia such as China, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Cambodia and others countries. This festival is look similar to the Pchum Ben festival in Cambodia because Halloween is meant to commemorate relatives who passed away, and the festival also provides knowledge for next generations to commemorate the ancestors.

Photo by: Sakura Engly