Scary good esprit de corps

Photos by Staff Sgt. Christopher Fincham A baby Tigger takes a break from all of the excitement. Ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and vampires played alongside superheroes, clowns, and a Cat in the Hat Oct. 25 at the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion's Halloween Festival.

The festival was put together through the combined efforts of the battalion's Family Readiness Groups along with the Soldiers of the unit's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program.

"The 206th Halloween Festival was a terrific event for the whole Family," said Lt. Col. David May, the 206th MI Bn. commander. "The large number of volunteers, both Soldiers and Family Members, was key to our success."

Kids of all ages played everything from "Eyeball Toss" to the popular balloon smash outside of the unit headquarters. A face-painting station was also on hand along with a coloring area for the younger crowd.

Inside the headquarters was another scene altogether. The entire headquarters building was transformed into a full-scale haunted house complete with butcher, witch, werewolf and living dead, all of which led to screams of fear throughout of the building.

The bean bag toss challenged festival-goers to toss a bean bag through the openings of a pumpkin. "The haunted house was really a first-class show, and the children's games were both fun and entertaining," said May. "There was something for everyone."

A little clown has his face painted at one of the stations set up at the festival. Surrounded by Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk and Fifi the poodle, Batwoman hands out balloons at the balloon stomp. A princess chases after her balloon in an attempt to stomp it to receive the prize inside. The butcher stays focused on his craft inside the haunted house.