Rice Blvd. Neighborhood Halloween Tradition: 10 Years of Pre-Halloween

Rice Blvd. neighborhood kids enjoying their pre-Halloween tradition. (Back row, from left) Natalie Thoss, Jacob Thweatt, Andrew Thoss, Blaine Hashmi, Henry Thweatt; (middle row, from left) Sonia Misra, Jonah Miller, John Thweatt, Bailey Hashmi; (Bottom row, from left) Alana Marks, Gabrielle Miller, Eve Davison. 

Ten years ago, John Thweatt was supposed to skip out on Halloween fun. He was two and a half years old, and was going to have to miss one of the most anticipated days of the year for kids because he had a stem cell transplant procedure scheduled. 

Neighbor John Stokes decided this was not right. No kid should have to spend Halloween in the hospital and miss out on the fun of trick-or-treating. So he gathered neighbors on the block – the 2800 and 2900 blocks of Rice Blvd. – to help. They readied their candy, costumes and neighborly love a few days early – Oct. 26 – so John could experience the fun before his procedure. 

John Thweatt (on right) with John Stokes, the Rice Blvd. neighbor who founded the pre-Halloween tradition 10 years ago. 

Thankfully, John’s procedure was successful and today, he’s a happy and healthy sixth grader at Pin Oak Middle School. In celebration, the neighborhood has continued the pre-Halloween experience every year since. This year marked the 10th anniversary of this kind-hearted, fun tradition. 

Like every year, the kids on the block enjoyed pre-Halloween fun on Oct. 26. And they’ll do it all again on Oct. 31. 

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