The Governor’s Mansion decked out for Halloween Tuesday in Carson City. Photos by Scott Neuffer
Halloween comes once year — costumes, candy, general spookiness — and it was not a night to be wasted in west Carson City. Trick-or-treaters lined the sidewalks outside the Governor’s Mansion on Mountain Street Tuesday for a chance to get candy from Gov. Joe Lombardo and First Lady Donna Lombardo.
“Reese’s because of the peanut butter,” 7-year-old Joey Hernandez said when asked about his favorite candy.
Joey was dressed as Ghostface from the “Scream” film franchise. He stood in front of the mansion with mother Kelsey Ramirez.
“He’s a ghost … his mouth is big,” Joey said of his costume.
Ramirez said houses in the neighborhood hand out good candy, not just the governor’s mansion.
“We come back because it’s safe,” she said.
Kelsey Ramirez with son Joey Hernandez, 7, at the Governor’s Mansion Tuesday.The Carson City Sheriff’s Office volunteer squads help create that feeling of safety. Search and Rescue volunteer J.C. McKendrick has served with the unit for 17 years and has only missed Halloween at the mansion twice.
“And where else but Carson City would the governor show up to hand out candy?” he said.
McKendrick said he sees “the most interesting people” every year.
Carson residents Troy and Jeannie Morgan might have qualified as interesting. Parked on the east side of the street was their 40-foot ship recently seen in the Nevada Day parade. The ship is called “Fjorgyn,” which they said means “mother of Thor.”
“The kids love seeing this kind of thing,” Troy said.
Face painted, Jeannie was preparing for a fire-spinning routine at the mansion.
“We love Vikings, we love pirates, we love shenanigans, and we love Nevada,” she said.
Tuesday’s shenanigans also included a keyboardist, smoke machines and skeletons hanging from the mansion’s front balcony as a line of families snaked around W. Robinson Street.
Skeletons hanging from the Governor’s Mansion as part of Halloween decorations Tuesday.“No one trick-or-treats in our neighborhood,” said Washoe Valley resident Jess Hoffman, who was waiting in line with daughters Juniper, 3, and Indigo, 5.
Juniper was dressed as Blippi, the YouTube entertainer, and Indigo was Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”
“M&Ms,” both answered when asked about their favorite candy.
Hoffman said she’s been coming to the event for several years.
“It’s kind of like a big party atmosphere,” she said. “We liked it, so we just kept coming back.”
According to Kristen Dillard, executive coordinator of the Governor’s Mansion, community organizations donated over 1,300 pounds of candy for the event, eclipsing last year’s estimated total of 900 pounds.
It’s the most candy Dillard has seen in her tenure.
“The community has been so incredibly generous this year,” she told the Appeal Tuesday. “We have collected more candy than we ever have in the past.”
Dillard said support came from community service clubs, local businesses and grocery stores.
“It feels like every year there are more and more kids and families that participate,” she said. “It just makes it a really great event and a great feeling.”
Gov. Joe Lombardo and First Lady Donna Lombardo greet families in front of the Governor’s Mansion on Tuesday.