VERO BEACH — Some people really come alive when they’re dressed like the dead, as evidenced Saturday night at the Heritage Center’s Frightening Formals on 14th Avenue: A Halloween Party to Die For. Ghouls and zombies, guts and gore took center stage – dug up and dressed to kill at the costumed fundraiser to benefit the Heritage Center and Citrus Museum.
“It’s so much fun to see people that you know, that you don’t recognize because they’re all dressed up in their Halloween costumes,” said Susan Kamer. “I think this is a stitch. A party like this gives people permission to dress up and have fun.”
“It’s mostly just a fun Halloween dance party,” said event chair Cathie Callery of the idea for the event, watching as DJ Joe Tessier heated things up and got the walking dead onto the dance floor.
The room’s décor included centerpiece hands grabbing up from the candy laden tables, and spooky Halloween-themed portraiture, painted by Carol Smith and Cynthia Baita, which later went home with winning bidders through a silent auction.
It was almost a shame to dig into the occasion’s pièce de résistance – a sumptuous cake concocted by Carnival Confections. Everything but the RIP headstone was edible in the ghoulish confection, including the bloody skull popping up out of chocolate crumble dirt, and the skeletal hands which held its wiggly Jell-O brain.
“This has been so much fun – the decorating and getting dressed,” said committee member Robin Votaw. “It’s hard to recognize everyone!”
With one imaginative costume after another, originality was clearlyt the order of the evening. Fred Horning added an extra arm and a leg to his outfit, along with a full-sized raven atop his hat. Janet DeMichael’s elaborate costume was that of the Queen of Hearts; complete with a lifelike head on a tray and an “Off with Your Head” sign.
Spiders were another popular costume theme – Nikki and Bob Pfeiffer and Marie Morrow sported hairy blinking spider ‘hats’ and, along with several others, dripped with sparkly webs and dangling arthropods.
“Marie made this out of a gourd,” said Pat Marquis of the spider topped fascinator she wore, crafted by Morrow. “Four of us got dressed at Pam Harmon’s house. It was like being at a slumber party in high school; we had so much fun.”
“You can tell they are a group of artists,” said Gretchen Cover of the elaborate getups worn by the creative friends.
“I’m a Halloween addict,” admitted Sue Manganiello, who caused quite a stir when she and husband Dave entered the room. He was an eerily realistic Angel of Death complete with glowing red eyes and a softly lit “bag of souls” over his shoulder. Her top-hatted outfit was that of a formal funeral director – touting “Express Funeral Service; We Bury in a Hurry.”
“Death with an attitude,” laughed Gina Wattles, watching the couple as they took to the dance floor. “The whole point was to have something fun, not during season. We had people come tonight who have never been here before; it’s great.”
“It’s just a fun holiday, said Nicole Matson. “You get to dress up and be like a kid again.”
