A Willy Wonka Halloween

The children's hospital where I work does an Associate Halloween costume competition each year, for the patients and their families (who judge). It's quite a production, where they encourage all employees to dress in costumes and participate. Halloween is a fun day around here, where most kids wouldn't choose to be in Halloween- so we try to make it somewhat enjoyable.
There are some people who dress as individuals and some groups who do a theme.
This year for the first time the social workers participated, under my direction and coordination.
The theme we chose was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- the original Gene Wilder one; not the creepy Johnny Depp version.
We ended up winning "Funniest" which was a-ok by me! The other groups have nothing on a the amazing creative team of Muddy Wellman and Cory!
Enjoy the festivities.


My friend Jennifer was Violet Beauregarde, the girl who eats the ill-concocted candy and swells up with blueberry juice.

Muddy and I crafted beds for the four grandparents to be in together. If you look at the right front corner of the picture, you can see a pair of feet sticking out. We had four pairs of feet glued in place to give the illusion that they were laying across from each other. It was hilarious to see in person.

I was Willy Wonka, in the fully finished version of the coat Muddy made for Brian. Ben was our Oompa Loompa in residence.

The whole group of us- me as Willy, Laura as Charlie, Alexa as Mike TeaVee, the grandparents in bed, Kate as Veruca, Val as the Golden Ticket, Jen as Violet, Ben as an Oompa Loompa and Addie as a cute girl from the "Cibil War" who was thrilled to hold a Wonka bar.

We crafted it so that Ed, the Social Work boss, jumped out of his bed with his cane and did the dance that Grandpa Joe does. It was HYSTERICAL. The "I've got a golden ticket" song was playing. You can also see a pair of blue feet in the bed at this angle.