By FABIAN CORONA
The Tower
The streets fill with costumes, candy is passed around by the handful, and families gather to celebrate one of the most anticipated nights of the year.
For many students and staff at Manteca High School, Halloween is more than just dressing up. It is a chance to create memories, spend time with loved ones, and continue traditions that make the holiday special.
While Halloween means different things to different people, many members of the Manteca High community look forward to the costumes, movies, and family activities that come with the holiday. For Manteca High staff member Ashlee Teczon, a science teacher, Halloween is centered around family, creativity, and making lasting memories with her son.
"I love the atmosphere and spending my time with my son every year and getting to create memories with him,” she said.
Like many families, Teczon already has plans for Halloween this year.
"Same thing that I normally do and go out and celebrate with my son," she said.
One of her favorite traditions is spending hours walking around the neighborhood before returning home to relax.
"Every year we go out into our neighborhood and stay out for a few hours then we come back home to get cozy and watch a Halloween movie and settle in for the night," Teczon said.
For Teczon, the holiday is less about candy and more about spending quality time with family.
Halloween also provides an opportunity for creativity. One of Teczon's favorite Halloween memories came from a family costume theme inspired by the television show SpongeBob SquarePants.
"A couple of years ago my son wanted to dress up as Doodle Bob from SpongeBob and I dressed up as Sandy Cheeks and my husband dressed up as SpongeBob," Teczon said. "We created his costume and he was getting many props for his costume."
This year, Teczon is preparing a different costume. She will attend a murder mystery party dressed as an extravagant ringmaster.
"I'm a ringleader so I must be extravagant and the hat I'm wearing is decorated wild and this has been one of the better costumes I have done," Teczon said.
No Halloween celebration is complete without favorite treats and movies.
Teczon said her favorite Halloween candy is Twix because she enjoys chocolate. When asked about the worst candy, she quickly answered, "Smarties, they are terrible."
After a night of Halloween activities, Teczon enjoys ending the evening with a classic movie.
"I can always fall back to this movie and enjoy it, and it is always a comfort movie, Hocus Pocus," Teczon said.
Whether it is creating homemade costumes, collecting candy, or watching favorite movies, Halloween continues to bring people together.
For Teczon, the holiday is all about family traditions and making memories that will last long after Oct. 31 has passed. As students and staff prepare for Halloween 2026, many are finding their own ways to keep the spirit of the season alive.