Haunted Pumpkin Patch hosts costume contest runway show with $1,000 cash prize.

ISLA VISTA, Calif. - Sophia Lake is excited to see visitors embody the spirit of Halloween at Isla Vista’s first pumpkin patch costume contest runway show.  

She shared the secret ingredients judges will be looking for:

“Creativity. Spunkiness. Confidence. Confidence is key here. Just confidence,” said IVRPD Recreation Coordinator Sophia Lake. 

Dozens of kids and adults signed up for the contest.

There were three different rounds in the competition-- a runway walk, talent portion, and questions from the judges.

“It's going to be on the spot, so we'll see some pretty wild and crazy things, I'm sure,” said Lake. 

“It's definitely a really fun way to like get a bunch of different people together and just have fun,” said UCSB student Luciana Lopez-Aita.

Winners received everything from music festival tickets to a one-thousand dollar grand prize.

UCSB students like Luciana Lopez-Aita.appreciate that the Isla Vista Parks and Recreation Department made the event free to everyone.

 “I know that Halloween can definitely get expensive for some people, so the fact that we don't have to pay an entry fee is really awesome,” said UCSB student Luciana Lopez-Aita.

“It gives the community, like, a fun and safe way to, like, celebrate Halloween and get dressed up and just, like, strut their stuff on the runway” said Lake. 

The contest took place from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Isla Vista Haunted Pumpkin Patch.