San Francisco is gearing up for a spooktacular Halloween, with thousands of trick-or-treaters and partygoers expected to descend on the city this Friday night. For one business owner, Cliff's Variety co-owner Terry Asten Bennett, Halloween is more than just a holiday – it's a way of life.
Bennett's great-grandfather started the tradition in the Castro neighborhood back in the 1940s, with pie-eating contests and costume competitions that drew tens of thousands of people. However, a series of violent incidents led to a scaled-back Halloween over the years. This year, business owners want to reimagine the holiday as a fun and safe night market on 18th Street.
"We want to be fun, we want to be festive, we want to be community," Bennett said. "It's not going to be nothing like the heyday of Halloween, but I don't think anyone wants that back. That was scary and crowded."
To ensure safety, the San Francisco Police Department has increased staffing, with additional officers on patrol, particularly in areas popular for Halloween events.
Meanwhile, residents are gearing up for a night of Halloween festivities, with street closures and live entertainment happening throughout the city. Belvedere Street is especially getting into the spirit, with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme and 12,000 pieces of candy ready to be handed out.
Local resident Laura Onopchenko said, "Halloween is our night. It's our Super Bowl." She and her neighbor are buying their Halloween candy in bulk, expecting a large number of kids to show up.
As for Cliff's Variety, Bennett has a pie-eating contest planned, open to anyone who wants to join in on the fun. With costumes and makeup selling out fast, it seems like this year's Halloween is shaping up to be one to remember.
Bennett's great-grandfather started the tradition in the Castro neighborhood back in the 1940s, with pie-eating contests and costume competitions that drew tens of thousands of people. However, a series of violent incidents led to a scaled-back Halloween over the years. This year, business owners want to reimagine the holiday as a fun and safe night market on 18th Street.
"We want to be fun, we want to be festive, we want to be community," Bennett said. "It's not going to be nothing like the heyday of Halloween, but I don't think anyone wants that back. That was scary and crowded."
To ensure safety, the San Francisco Police Department has increased staffing, with additional officers on patrol, particularly in areas popular for Halloween events.
Meanwhile, residents are gearing up for a night of Halloween festivities, with street closures and live entertainment happening throughout the city. Belvedere Street is especially getting into the spirit, with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme and 12,000 pieces of candy ready to be handed out.
Local resident Laura Onopchenko said, "Halloween is our night. It's our Super Bowl." She and her neighbor are buying their Halloween candy in bulk, expecting a large number of kids to show up.
As for Cliff's Variety, Bennett has a pie-eating contest planned, open to anyone who wants to join in on the fun. With costumes and makeup selling out fast, it seems like this year's Halloween is shaping up to be one to remember.
we saw the most gorgeous sunsets over the ocean and i'm still on a high from our crazy adventures 
have you ever tried making your own hot sauce from scratch? it's literally the best thing ever, trust me! 
... that would def add to the spooky vibes! and 12,000 pieces of candy? that's a lotta treats for just one night lol. what kinda costumes r ppl expecting this yr? are they more into superheroes or maybe horror movies & stuff? 
️ 3.4 million trick-or-treaters are expected to descend on San Francisco this year, with a record 2.5 million in 2023 
. That's a 10% increase from last year! Meanwhile, the city's Halloween party scene is expected to rake in $13 million in revenue, up from $9.6 million in 2018 
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. The old pie-eating contests might've been a bit too intense 
. But with 12,000 pieces of candy available on Belvedere Street alone, I'm sure the crowd will be delighted 
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. That's some serious inspiration for our friends at Cliff's Variety! 
. On the other hand, I'm still concerned about crowd control and safety 
. I mean, it's been 10+ years since those violent incidents, but you can never be too careful. Still, I guess if anyone can make Halloween fun again, Terry Bennett and his crew can try 
