Kids at Children’s Hospital of Richmond enjoy ‘spooktacular’ Halloween celebration

Oct 16, 2025 - 22:25

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Kids at Children’s Hospital of Richmond enjoy ‘spooktacular’ Halloween celebration

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Young patients receiving care a Richmond children's hospital enjoyed a "spooktacular" celebration on Thursday.

The Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) was full of Halloween fun on Thursday, Oct. 16 as patients and their loved ones got to pick out costumes, paint some pumpkins, play games and, of course, get some treats.

This festive party, which is an annual affair, is made possible by Spirit Halloween's "Spirit of Children" charitable foundation.

It's an effort to allow these patients, who won't necessarily be able to enjoy Halloween the same way other kids do, still experience as much of the holiday cheer as possible.

"For most kids, [Halloween is] one of, if not their favorite, holiday of the year," said Bethany Fisackerly Burns, the Child Life Program manager for CHoR. "And it's a hard holiday to celebrate in the hospital."

Spirit Halloween's Spirit of Children Halloween party at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. (Photos: Jakobi Davis/8News)

Burns pointed out that, while celebrations for Christmas and Thanksgiving can be held early or be postponed, you can only really have the full Halloween experience day of.

"[It's] giving our kids a chance to just forget about everything else," she said. "Maybe be a little silly or goofy, maybe get something to scare their nurse later. You can't help but smile."

Raymond Smith, Spirit Halloween's Virginia senior zone manager, echoed Burns' thoughts, emphasizing the value of helping these kids forget about their medical needs for just a little while.

Spirit Halloween's Spirit of Children Halloween party at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. (Photos: Jakobi Davis/8News)

"Especially for these kids that are going through whatever they're going through right now, being here in the hospital ... it gives them an opportunity to step out and be a kid again," he said.

8News also spoke to a parent attending the event, Aiyana Slater. She said she'd never seen something like this offered before -- and she loved it.

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"They're being considered," Slater said. "There's all these events going on outside of the hospital -- so for them to have somewhere to come to express their festive feelings for the holidays and stuff like that? I definitely like this whole outcome."

In addition to all of the fun, $1 donations were also collected for the hospital during the party. Since 2010, Spirit of Children has raised $1.3 million for the Children's Hospital Foundation, which benefits the Child Life Program at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU.