Hundreds pack downtown Santa Cruz for Halloween

It hardly felt like a Monday night in downtown Santa Cruz. Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Halloween on Pacific Street to eat, drink and be scary. The rain did not stopped people from having a good time.

Police officers are also present to keep people safe. In fact, they started preparing for the night nine months ago.

“Halloween has an organic crowd, so it could swell as the evening goes on,” said Joyce Blaschke, with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

More than 100 Santa Cruz and Bay Area officers got to work Monday night.

“We expect the crowds to get denser and (with) more people and alcohol consumption, we want to be prepared,” Blaschke said.

But the police weren’t the only people in uniform on Pacific Street. Catherine Martinez is dressed as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and found her outfit to be quite affordable.

“So my budget was $10, the gown was $6 and the doily was $1 for 36 of them,” Martinez said.

And she had a message.

“The back of my outfit just reminds people that it really important to get out to vote,” Martinez said.

For those not old enough to vote or stay up too late, there was something else to enjoy.

“I got a lot of candy,” said Kenton Susca, 6, in a Cowardly Lion suit.

Some dressed up as their favorite character, like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

“I like how she has a doggie and I like how she has a pig tail,” said 8-year-old Clarissa Susca.

The safety enforcement zone will run until 3 a.m. Tuesday. People with open alcohol containers or who litter or trespass will face triple fines in the enforcement zone.