A creative Halloween letter-writing program sparks local—and global—connections
The Tulare Parks & Recreation's "Letters to Jack Skellington" is a community-engagement program designed to promote literacy, community connection, and a holiday spirit. In 2025, the program went viral as the department received 5,000 letters from all 50 U.S. states (as well as Guam and Puerto Rico), Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, and Australia. This year, the program not only connected local residents but also facilitated a global connection through a shared, themed activity, creating a sense of belonging and community excitement during the Halloween season.
The program provides a fun and engaging creative-writing prompt, motivating children to practice letter-writing and communication skills. The program also promotes inclusivity, accessibility, and equity by leveraging digital tools to remove traditional participation barriers. Engaging in "kidulting" hobbies and imaginative activities helps lower stress levels, invokes a sense of nostalgia, and provides a healthy, creative escape.
Goals, Objectives And Desired Outcomes
The "Letters to Jack Skellington" program was created to answer the community's need for a dynamic, family-friendly Halloween tradition. While children traditionally write to the North Pole during Christmas, there was no prominent figure for them to engage with during the Halloween season. Jack Skellington, the "Pumpkin King," serves as a seasonal counterpart. The program provides a free, interactive activity to get children excited about Halloween by encouraging them to share their costume ideas and "spooky fun" plans. By offering a personalized response from Jack, the program fosters a sense of wonder and provides a creative-writing outlet for all. This inclusive seasonal program fills a gap for families looking for "wholesome" yet "magical and spooky" community activities during the fall.
“Letters to Jack Skellington” also addresses equity, accessibility, and diversity through core design principles. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) was used to ensure accessibility. The program offers multiple ways for participants to engage with the prompt. For those with limited verbal or writing skills, the program accepts drawings, digital art, or dictated letters, allowing neurodivergent students or those with physical disabilities to express themselves fully.
Through cultural inclusivity and representation, the program promotes diversity by framing Jack Skellington as a "cultural explorer" who attempts to understand a world (Christmas Town) different from his own. This narrative encourages participants to share their own cultural traditions and holidays in their letters, validating diverse backgrounds beyond traditional Western celebrations.
