AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --
Candy, costumes, and craziness all in good fun describe Halloween on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Oct. 31.
Service members participated in several pre-Halloween activities throughout the week, like the fear factor challenge, a haunted house, and listened to the musical sounds of the band 12 Stones.
At sunset on All Hallows’ Eve zombies were released and could be seen running on base in the Zombie 5K and uniforms were traded for costumes in preparation for a costume contest. The service members dressed up like Super Mario Brothers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Cat in the Hat. Later, service members were treated to a nearly two-hour Pop Rocks performance. The band from Minneapolis, Minn. impersonated several recording artist including Run D.M.C., Lady Gaga and Kid Rock.
The Base Exchange hosted a Halloween bazaar in the community center on base.
“Halloween Fest provides them a more variety and a chance to buy Christmas gifts of things soldiers don’t usually get,” said Pam Hammond, Base Exchange Service Business Manager.
Hammond, also the Halloween bazaar coordinator, explained why she decided to do this for service members.
“We like to have fun and still be able to do our job,” she said. “We like to bring home to the soldiers. I am also very passionate to my venders and concessions, they work very hard and I want them to have the opportunity to provide for the soldiers,” she said.
“They get to buy things to take home that they can’t get anywhere else,” said Ben Cordle, Base Exchange Badging Officer.
The BX venders specialize in different items, giving soldiers a wide of variety of items to purchase.