Los Al Race Track annual contest attracts 300 participants
Make no bones about it, Matt Schiavo’s Dino-Fossil costume topped the 2019 Halloween Costume Contest at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday night.
Schiavo’s homemade costume was Dino-mite, as the majority of the dinosaur bones were movable and controlled through strings attached to Schiavo’s body.
His costume was voted the best of the night that had approximately 300 total participants. Now in its 24th year, the annual Los Alamitos Race Course Costume Contest in one of the biggest in North Orange County. Schiavo, who won the 15 and up division, won a total of $700 in cash prizes. The Long Beach resident won $200 for winning his division and an additional $500 as the Grand Prize winner.
“The costume took me about a month to make,” Schiavo said. “A lot of it is ½ inch fencing pipe from Los Alamitos Ornamental Supply. I welded the pipes together and attached it to an old Boys Scout backpack. The rest of it is insulation foam shaped and painted to make it look nice. Making it has been a labor of love. It does take up a lot of space in garage and I pretty much can’t park my car in there, but I’ve had a great time working on it. I love to wear it and the kids love it when they see it.”
No word yet if what’s left of this T-Rex will be retired and put on display at a Natural History Museum.
The Los Alamitos Halloween Costume Contest featured seven different aged divisions. Each divisional winner advanced to the grand finale. In addition to Schiavo’s win in the 15 and up division, other winners included: Enzo Thomas as an explorer in a Yellow Submarine in the 2 and under division; Alexandra Marcos of Anaheim as a character from the movie Pan’s Labyrinth in the 3-4 year old division; Mateo and Andrew Lopez as a Bowl of Spilled Spaghettis & Meatball 5-6 division; Joseph Velazquez of Whittier as a Jack In The Box in the 7-8 division; Manoka Nasu of Tustin as Harry Porter in Uncle Dursley’s home being invited to Hogwart’s Castle in 9-11 division; and Brian Higgins as a Pirate in his Ship in the 12-14 division. The event benefited the Greater Anaheim & Cypress Boys & Girls Club and Los Alamitos Youth Center.
At the conclusion of the carnival, the Greater Anaheim & Cypress Boys & Girls Club and Los Alamitos Youth Center were each presented with a check for $5,000 from Ed Allred, owner of Los Alamitos Race Course.
Photos and videos of the event can be seen on the track’s social media pages on Twitter and Instagram @losalracing. For more information on the event call 714-820-2690.
Courtesy photos
