Three hours ahead of schedule

“When it all comes down to a sunrise on the east side, will you be there to carry home the remains of my wasted youth?” -All Time Low

For the first time in my life, I found myself on the east coast of the United States, amazed and curious in Louisville, Kent.

A trip that I had looked forward to for two months, before my mini-vacation, finally came and happened to fall on Halloween weekend.

Let’s just say that Louisville knows how to have a good time.

As some of the other editors on the State Hornet arrived at the Galt Hotel in downtown, we realized that the stress of the newspaper and grueling midterms all seemed to vanish. Yes, we were there for our Fall collegiate journalism awards convention.

But in our minds, we were there for a vacation. We needed it.

I’ve spent 21 Halloweens in the Sacramento area and honestly, Halloween 2010 was better than other 20 of them combined. 4th Street Live hosts a downtown gathering where live acts play in the middle of the blocked off street surrounding dozens of restaurants and clubs with a connected form of entertainment. 

After being in workshops for most of the day, we would go experience the freedom of downtown Louisville. So on most nights, 1,000 journalists and locals would hit 4th Street Live to see nationally touring acts in the middle of this alcohol and fun infested street. 

Any person 21 and up could enter in the chaos of a street. Sacramento has nothing that even compares. In 2010, Louisville brought back the very successful Halloween costume block party from a year ago. 

In the range of 5,000 people, some of the most original, mind-blowing costumes came to 4th Street for one purpose - fun. 

I was still trying to fathom how exactly 5,000 people fit in this one street. But somehow it managed to work out. The whole purpose for the block party was for a costume contest. It sounded to me like Louisville was just looking for another excuse to party.

But the city had some people with creative minds. The best costume winner went to Aquaman. Not just any Aquaman. This Aquaman had full body paint, fins that shot bubbles and a fish tank around his waist - with live fish inside.

After day one of being there, the journalists realized Louisville liked to party. Louisville liked to drink. Louisville liked to be friendly. Locals actually started conversations even though they had absolutely zero idea who these random people were. I mean, we were all dressed up in ridiculous costumes that probably shouldn’t be worn in public. But they were genuinely interested if we were being treated well.

There was just something about this city that made me want more when I flew back home. I missed seeing music being appreciated on such a high level. 4th Street Live and the locals made tourists feel like one of them.

Sacramento doesn’t do that for me. Especially on Halloween. 

Tell me where in the Sacramento area that they have a huge block party that gets permanently blocked for entertainment purposes only...I mean, a costume party.