History 21 The Podcast - 2.20 The Anoka Halloween Parade with Liz McFarland

Thousands of people attend the Anoka Halloween parades each year to see the floats. What they don’t see is all the work behind the scenes. Liz McFarland has organized the parades as a volunteer with Anoka Halloween for over 10 years. She stopped by the museum to share the story of how she fell into the role, and all the details that go into creating the Anoka Parades.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director

Vault Extras

Listen to Liz McFarland’s full interview

The Vault

Big Parade of Little People on Main St., 1971.

Anoka Marching Band on Main Street, Anoka.

Anoka Halloween Parade, October 30, 2004.

Anoka County Library Minute

Anoka Halloween 100th anniversary : 1920-2020 by John T. Jost (394.2646 ANO). The definitive resource on all things Anoka Halloween. This book is loaded with information about the history of the festival, photos, and reminiscences of those who have participated over the years. This is THE book for everyone who wants to experience this special event, from those who are first encountering Anoka Halloween to those who want to stroll down memory lane.

Zach Neil's The nightmare before dinner : recipes to die for : the Beetle House cookbook by Zach Neil (641.568 NEI). This title features recipes from The Beetle House Restaurant in New York City, where every day is Halloween. This unique cookbook offers 60+ spooky recipes, including vegan and vegetarian alternatives or swaps for every recipe. Craft a creepy cocktail or design a table setting that will inspire delight for fans of Halloween.

The little black book of project management by Michael C. Thomsett (658.404 THO). Liz McFarland, this episode's esteemed guest, is a project manager. With the third edition of this classic text on project management, learn the skills, techniques, and tips that are used to pull off projects like coordinating three Anoka Halloween Parades each year.

The big book of Halloween : creative & creepy projects for revelers of all ages by Laura Dover Doran (745.5941 DOR). The Big Book of Halloween has a little bit of everything to create a spectacularly spooky Halloween. Activities include DIY Glow-in-the-Dark Window decorations, DIY "gravestones" for the yard, DIY greeting cards, and Halloween inspired games. Learn about growing pumpkins, or the history of the Jack-o'-Laterns. Enjoy a scary story or the section on vintage Halloween collectables. This book has it all for Halloween enthusiasts.

Creepy cross-stitch : 25 spooky projects to haunt your halls by Lindsay Swearingen (746.443 SWE). Cross-stitch is gaining in popularity because of its ease to pick up and learn. Explore your creepy creativity with this collection of easy-to-follow patterns and helpful tips create your own spooky cross-stitch projects.

Lady of bones by Carolyn Haines (MYSTERY HAI). Sarah Booth Delaney, private investigator, searches for a missing reporter tracking a story in New Orleans. It's Halloween season in the South and the trail leads to secret spooky underworlds and creepy characters. This cozy mystery series, Lady of Bones is the 24th title, has been characterized by Kirkus Reviews as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”. This recent addition to the series is perfect for October.

Children

How to build hair raising haunted houses by Megan Cooley Peterson (J745.5941646 PET). Build your own haunted house! Using things around the house, build a scary fun haunted house to decorate your own (hopefully not haunted) house.

Marvel super hero adventures. Halloween spooktacular by Jacob Chabot (J GRAPHIC MAR). It’s October, and you know what that means: HALLOWEEN! And with Halloween come tricks and treats alike. But while Captain Marvel and Spidey are trying to get their sugar fix, the rambunctious rogues of the Marvel Universe will be spying and scheming from afar…

Costume parade by Stephanie Calmenson (EJ FICTION CAL). Book 4 of the Adventures of Allie and Amy finds our friends on Halloween. Will they make it to the party in time?

It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky (E PRE). This easy reader has Halloween inspired poetry for the new reader!

Binge Box

Disney's Halloween spooktacular (BINGE DIS). A collection of DVDs all gathered into one "binge box" for a "spooktacular" movie night: Hocus Pocus, The Haunted Mansion, Halloweentown, Halloweentown II, Frankenweenie, The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad, The Watcher in the Woods.