Dreaming of Dream Halloween
If you've ever seen a photo of a young actress or actor in a Halloween costume, then you've probably seen coverage of the Dream Halloween Benefit. The event was noticeably, inexplicably, and very sadly gone from Halloween 2014. Its absence is a surprise to many, since Dream Halloween had a large turnout last year ( Rowan Blanchard, Ryan Newman, Zendaya Coleman were just a few who were there in costume) and seemed as successful as ever. Keep a Child Alive, the organization that sponsors the event has offered no explain, and for Halloween this year, they instead held a stiff, formal, grown-up black-tie ball.
So many actresses attended Dream Halloween over the years, and the memories are many, from the adorable (11-year-old Kiernan Shikpa as a cat in 2011) to the more questionable (9-year-old Noah Cyrus in a scanty goth costume in 2009). But the event didn't always enjoy such a big turnout. When Dream Halloween got started in the mid-'90s, it was a more low-key, under-the-radar event, attended mostly by a few celebrities and their kids. But it took off in the early-'00s, when young actresses and actors like the Fanning sisters and Sprouse twins began attending in costume. For the last ten years, Dream Halloween was easily the biggest Halloween event in Hollywood, a fun, wholesome alternative to the sexy, scantily-clad parties thrown by Heidi Klum or Kate Hudson. It was greatly missed this year.
But even though there was no Dream Halloween 2014, there were a few other costumed events that child actresses attended. At the beginning of October, Disney Channel hosted a Halloween VIP event and sent several of its kid stars to it.
Pirate has always been a popular costume choice (12-year-old Sammi Hanratty's pirate costume back in 2007 is still the cutest one I've ever seen) and this year, 6-year-old Mia Talerico, star of the recently-cancelled Good Luck, Charlie, put a slightly more girly spin on the classic. She's dressed specifically as Izzy, the female first-mate on Disney Channel's animated series Jake and the Neverland Pirates; the character is voiced by Madison Pettis.
10-year-old Francesca Capaldi, star of Dog With a Blog, also dressed as a character from a Disney movie/show (which was probably an obligation of going to the event) with her Maleficent costume. Like many other child actresses, Francesca attended the premiere of the Elle Fanning movie in May.
A few young actresses also wore costumes to the Halloween premiere of the R-rated adult drama Horns.
Alice in Wonderland is another costume that's always been popular with young actresses (see also 12-year-old Kathryn Newton in 2009, just to name one). At 15, Sabrina Carpenter, from Disney Channel's Girl Meets World, is one of the more older actresses to wear it, which is probably why she tried to give it a slightly gothic look with the cross necklace and heavy black bow and shoes. Sabrina also posted a photo to her Instagram of herself in costume as Hit-Girl, Chloe Moretz's character in Kick Ass.
Julia Roberts's hooker getup from Pretty Woman has been a controversial costume choice, most outrageously when a 3-year-old pageant contestant on Toddlers & Tiaras wore it in 2011. Julia's own niece Emma Roberts, then 21, wore it for Halloween 2012, and while still not the most tasteful costume choice, I think she was old enough that it's okay. The same goes for 19-year-old Kaleina Cordova, who wore it to the Horns premiere.
Previous years' Halloween events: 2013, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
So many actresses attended Dream Halloween over the years, and the memories are many, from the adorable (11-year-old Kiernan Shikpa as a cat in 2011) to the more questionable (9-year-old Noah Cyrus in a scanty goth costume in 2009). But the event didn't always enjoy such a big turnout. When Dream Halloween got started in the mid-'90s, it was a more low-key, under-the-radar event, attended mostly by a few celebrities and their kids. But it took off in the early-'00s, when young actresses and actors like the Fanning sisters and Sprouse twins began attending in costume. For the last ten years, Dream Halloween was easily the biggest Halloween event in Hollywood, a fun, wholesome alternative to the sexy, scantily-clad parties thrown by Heidi Klum or Kate Hudson. It was greatly missed this year.
But even though there was no Dream Halloween 2014, there were a few other costumed events that child actresses attended. At the beginning of October, Disney Channel hosted a Halloween VIP event and sent several of its kid stars to it.
Pirate has always been a popular costume choice (12-year-old Sammi Hanratty's pirate costume back in 2007 is still the cutest one I've ever seen) and this year, 6-year-old Mia Talerico, star of the recently-cancelled Good Luck, Charlie, put a slightly more girly spin on the classic. She's dressed specifically as Izzy, the female first-mate on Disney Channel's animated series Jake and the Neverland Pirates; the character is voiced by Madison Pettis.
10-year-old Francesca Capaldi, star of Dog With a Blog, also dressed as a character from a Disney movie/show (which was probably an obligation of going to the event) with her Maleficent costume. Like many other child actresses, Francesca attended the premiere of the Elle Fanning movie in May.
A few young actresses also wore costumes to the Halloween premiere of the R-rated adult drama Horns.
Alice in Wonderland is another costume that's always been popular with young actresses (see also 12-year-old Kathryn Newton in 2009, just to name one). At 15, Sabrina Carpenter, from Disney Channel's Girl Meets World, is one of the more older actresses to wear it, which is probably why she tried to give it a slightly gothic look with the cross necklace and heavy black bow and shoes. Sabrina also posted a photo to her Instagram of herself in costume as Hit-Girl, Chloe Moretz's character in Kick Ass.
Julia Roberts's hooker getup from Pretty Woman has been a controversial costume choice, most outrageously when a 3-year-old pageant contestant on Toddlers & Tiaras wore it in 2011. Julia's own niece Emma Roberts, then 21, wore it for Halloween 2012, and while still not the most tasteful costume choice, I think she was old enough that it's okay. The same goes for 19-year-old Kaleina Cordova, who wore it to the Horns premiere.
Previous years' Halloween events: 2013, 2011, 2010, and 2009.