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Students dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” during a Halloween costume contest and flash mob at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Faculty members perform a Barbie-themed dance for students during a Halloween costume contest at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with the contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students react as contestants show off their Halloween costumes at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a pageant and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People take a selfie at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a costume contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Student London Lechuda parades as Eric Cartman from South Park during a costume contest at the Orange County School of the Arts, take a photo in Santa Ana, California on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with the contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students at the Orange County School of the Arts pose for a photo in Santa Ana, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a costume contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A contestant parades before the judges during a Halloween costume contest at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” during a Halloween costume contest and flash mob at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students watch as contestants show off their Halloween costumes at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a pageant and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A contestant parades before the judges during a Halloween costume contest at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The school celebrated Halloween with a contest and flash mob dance. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” during a Halloween costume contest and flash mob at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
They were dressed as Shrek and Cartman from South Park, Barbie and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz – just about any character you can imagine.
Most of the 2,300 students at the Orange County School of the Arts participated Tuesday in the annual campus Halloween competition and flash mob dance.
The school has been running the event for more than 20 years.
Students can participate in the costume contest and compete for the scariest, funniest, most creative, and best group costume.
“Halloween is our day for our students to shine,” said Julia Gutierrez, the school’s director of public relations. “They really express their creativity.”
Students also spend weeks learning a choreographed routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which they perform at the end.