As a professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Chelsea Braun spends most of her days on Grounds, but not often in a feline outfit.
On Halloween, Braun’s family, like many in the Charlottesville area, donned their finest group costumes and hit the University’s Lawn for trick-or-treating. When it came time to decide what to wear, her husband Nikolai Braun said it was an easy choice.
“Our daughter Ione likes cats the animal, and Chelsea likes the musical,” he said. So, Nikolai spent six hours creating feline suits for the trio.
UVA School of Medicine professor Chelsea Braun and her family dressed up as big cats, inspired by her love for the musical “Cats” and her daughter’s love of the animals. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
It was the family’s first time attending the local tradition, and at age 3, it was Ione’s first time having candy. Roaring in her best lion impression, she could be found rolling in the fallen leaves while her parents held her swag.
Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn stretches back to the late 1980s when UVA students established the tradition to welcome local community members to Grounds. Today, numerous student organizations and residents of the 54 Lawn rooms take part in the annual event.
Dressed up as members of the Cavalier Marching Band, University President Jim Ryan and his staff were among the scores of people handing out candy to excited attendees. His marching band festively made its way across the street from Madison Hall with a little dinosaur in tow.
Brothers Victor and Tommy Barrague were also first-timers to the Lawn festivities, dressed as Woody and Buzz from the Disney classic, “Toy Story.” Their father, Pablo Barrague, a 2015 alum of UVA’s Darden School of Business, first became familiar with the event as a graduate student.
Left: Brothers Victor and Tommy Barrague joined their mom and Darden School-alum dad on the Lawn. Right: 7-year-old Ridley Russell returned for her fifth Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn as a witch. (Photos by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“We love the ‘Toy Story’ movie and always do a family costume,” said Joana Barrague, the boys’ mother, also in costume as Jessie the cowgirl doll.
Victor said he hoped to find lots of Sour Patch Kids, while Tommy had his fingers crossed for some gummy worms.
Brian O'Connor:
You know people ask me all the time what my favorite thing is about this place.
[Doorbell Rings]
Brian O'Connor:
It’s really just being able to share all of our success with this entire community.
Children at the Door:
Trick or Treat!
Lizzy Kaye, UVA diver:
Pick a ring, any ring
Andres Pedroso, UVA men’s tennis coach:
Hey pick one
Brian O’Connor
But you’ve got to draw the line somewhere
[Sound of door opening]
Kyle Guy, 2019 Final Four Most Outstanding Player:
Turkeys
[Door slams]
[Sound of crickets]
A returning trick-or-treater was local 7-year-old Ridley Russell. This year, Ridley dressed as a witch in a light-up dress. Given the limited battery, she eagerly waited for dark before showing off her glow.
“I decided to dress up as a witch because I’ve never done it before, and I thought people would like it,” she said. “I’m hoping to get lots of lollipops and Milky Ways.”
This was her fifth year trick-or-treating on Grounds with her older brother, and both said it definitely wouldn’t be their last.
