The Biggest Treat: Halloween at the White House

Any time the White House throws a party, it’s impossible not to hear about it from several different news sources.   A good White House photo op, no matter how frequently they occur, is always a welcome reminder to DC residents that we live in a city that’s really quite remarkable.  What isn’t a frequent occurrence, however, is the opportunity to be part of the event that merits the photo op in the first place.  But for 2 lucky Brainfood graduates and 2 happy Brainfood staffers, Halloween at the White House was the day we got to be in midst of it all.  Would we finally get to see the President and the First Lady?  What would we do during the event, and where would we be? Though we didn’t know it at the time, there were some very big treats in store for us. 

Halloween marked the last of 3 days in October that Brainfood graduates were invited to assist at the White House.  On Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday October 24th, Brainfood pitched in to help pastry chefs ice cookies and bag treats for the annual Halloween trick-or-treating event.  When all was said and done, over 3,000 treat bags were filled, stacked, and ready to bring smiles to the faces of the DC trick-or-treaters who had been invited to the event.  The two days of preparing the treats and being graciously toured around the White House were wonderful; being asked to assist for the “Halloween at the White House” event was completely unexpected and even more exciting. 

Halloween afternoon started out sunny and warm, giving us no warning of the sudden chill that would arrive with the sunset.  The initial warm weather, however, was perfect for our first task: rolling up 9 cumbersome Cres Cor storage lockers from the ground level kitchen to the North Portico.  Each locker, which towered above our relatively short Brainfood group, was filled with sheet trays of the treat bags that we had stuffed last week.  Since we already had first hand experience with the delicate cookies, we knew we had a serious task ahead of us.  Navigating the lockers around grates on the ground, up two levels of ramps, off a sidewalk, and onto the North Portico was a precarious job.  But despite our initial misgivings, all 9 lockers made the journey safely.  Once the Cres Cors had arrived at their destination, we set to the job of arranging treat bags in enormous wicker baskets that would sit on the White House steps, awaiting the trick-or-treaters.

All the while that we were busy shepherding the treat bags to the North Portico, it was impossible not to notice the surrounding Halloweenscape that included everything from the ghoulish to the elegant.  The North Lawn featured an enormous mountain of fall squashes in yellows and oranges.  A large hanging mobile of cobwebs and bats swayed spookily under the North Portico.  And dozens of costumed actors were getting makeup applied in small trailers just next to the main staircase.  We had barely had a chance to take in the scene before the sun began to set, and we had to take our places as official treat basket holders. 

If flocks of dressed up trick-or-treaters usually provide the joy and color to a cold Halloween night, these trick-or-treaters positively made the evening pop with excitement.  Wide eyes took in the looming White House columns while tiny outstretched hands reached to take treat bags being offered by the costumed characters.  Meanwhile, giddy parents snapped photo after photo, trying to make the moment last as long as possible.  Just as we got in the rhythm of supplying the treat bags to the costumed characters who were handing them out, we watched as Frankenstein, the Werewolf, Elvira, and the Vampire were waved aside.  Simultaneously, the press corps stood up to attention as a bright set of floodlights lit up the White House door.  And as we all collectively held our breath and turned, we heard the clattering of camera shutters, and we knew: the President and the First Lady had joined the party.

In the few seconds it took us to realize they were walking right towards us, they had already made it down the steps and were shaking our hands.  To say that the moment happened quickly and was completely surreal would be true.  To say that, for all the lights and cameras, shaking the hand of the President and the First Lady, introducing ourselves, and hearing them thank us for our help, felt strangely normal is also somehow accurate.  But as soon as they had taken their places in front of us on the steps, it was back to work again.  We supplied them with treat bags.  They distributed them to the trick-or-treaters, occasionally dispensing a hug, or complimenting a costume.  It would be impossible to not notice the palpable grace, charisma, and poise that the President and the First Lady exuded, even to someone whose sole role was to hold a basket of cookies for them.  However, at the same time, they also seemed comfortable being the candy dispensers in chief, even smiling at the trick-or-treaters who were too young to know what costume they were wearing, much less recognize POTUS and FLOTUS. 

As the baskets of treat bags got lighter and lighter (and our backs and arms got sorer and sorer) we knew our amazing Halloween evening was coming to an end.  Before the President and First Lady turned their attention to the party for military families that was taking place inside the White House, they stopped by for one last thank you and a hug for each of us.  And, to steal a true phrase from a White House pro, a hug from First Lady Michelle Obama is truly one of life’s great events.  It was the picture perfect ending to a great night, and one that we’ll all remember many Halloweens from now.
 

- Carina

Click here to read about our Saturday visit

Click here to read about our Sunday visit