Heartstrings: Remembering Larry Schmidt, Master Puppeteer

By C.J. Hirschfield

Commercialization and gore are key components of American Halloween these days. But one Oakland artist was committed to providing an alternative experience: a free, site-specific, Halloween-themed, family-friendly marionette show in the driveway of his family’s triplex in the Glenview District.

Larry Schmidt’s whimsical “Driveway Follies” has delighted many thousands of people over the last 11 years, and, I’m proud to say, has employed the talents of at least eight Children’s Fairyland puppeteers. We are all mourning Larry, a kind and generous soul who died at 66, of cancer, on January 18.

Larry Schmidt, founder of Driveway Follies. Photo by Rick Paulas.

Días de los Muertos at Fairyland

By C.J. Hirschfield

Halloween is more than just one night at the nation’s theme and amusement parks: it’s an entire season. Starting even before Labor Day in some places, Halloween festivities – including special experiences that usually require separate admission – allow parks to extend their typical summer season and to keep earning money well into the fall. As a result, Halloween is now huge business at parks.

At Fairyland? Well, we offer Jack o’Lantern Jamboree the weekend before Halloween – October 27 and 28 this year. No extra charge, half off for members, with tons of treat giveaways and special events. We also “theme out” parts of the park with special designs.

Last year, for the first time, we created a Días de los Muertos environment in our Alice in Wonderland Tunnel. It worked so well for us that Fairyland’s director of art and restoration, Shannon Taylor, is bringing it back this year.

The White Rabbit in front of the Alice in Wonderland Tunnel wearing a Dias de los Muertos mask