Monster Mash party returns for second year [The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.]

Oct. 13--If you're a cool ghoul or a chic freak, then you probably already have your ticket to the Monster Mash.

For everyone else, organizers say there's still a few tickets left for the big Halloween party, an evening of dancing, eating and vying for cool prizes that's expected to draw around 400 souls.

And in addition to being a great time, the Monster Mash also raises funds for a local charitable cause -- Hospice of Yuma.

"We love giving folks a fun way to help people in their community," said John Williams, executive director for Hospice of Yuma. "When we created Monster Mash, we wanted to do something fun that no one else was doing. We wanted to do something special."

Since this is the event's second year, it is being appropriately billed as Monster Mash II The Sequel. The event is slated for Saturday, Oct. 19, at Arizona Western College.

Monster Mash will entertain everyone with a dinner, silent and live auctions, entertainment, and costumed dancing.

Williams said that last year's Monster Mash was just too much fun -- and too successful -- not to become a new, popular tradition.

"There are just so many people who remember going to Halloween costume parties back in junior high. With Monster Mash, we're going back to a simpler time," he said. "We take everyone back before all the gore and that other stuff and we say, 'Let's just get together and have a good time.'"

The money goes toward the non-profit organization's charitable care program. Recipients are people who are terminally ill and do not have insurance or Medicare.

"There is no way we would be able to provide this care without the support of our community," Williams said. "This helps us provide the same level of care for everyone."

Last year's inaugural Monster Mash drew 400 people. Organizers are aiming for 450 attendees this time around.

Organizers were pleasantly surprised by how many showed up in festive costumes last year. "About 75 percent of people dressed up. We were blown away," he said. "People get to be someone else for just a little while. It's a great escape."

Williams will be dressing up, too, and has hinted about his costume during recent radio interviews. His biggest hint is that his costume is inspired by a current, popular reality TV show.

"Let's just say I'm going to be wearing a lot of camouflage," he said, laughing. "To see which character I'm going to be, you're going to have to come to see and it and believe it."

Tickets to Monster Mash II The Sequel are $50. Ticket sales are being cut off Monday at 5 p.m., so Williams suggests that people call that day (343-2222) or stop by Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S. 8th Ave.

"We're getting down to the wire," Williams said. "We're telling people to hurry and get their tickets. They are going fast!"

Darin Fenger can be reached at [email protected] or 539-6860.

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