Students dressed as clowns, cats, pirates and pumpkins gathered on the quad to cheer for their favorite costume in the costume contest at the Halloween lunchtime rally.

Out of seven contestants, seniors Claire Richardson and Skye Wanderman-Milne won the contest dressed as a two-person horse, with Richardson in the front and Wanderman-Milne taking up the rear. Their prize was a pumpkin full of candy.

"I think the horse was the best costume," junior Mika Ben-Shaul said.

Junior Allison Bisset took second place dressed as a moth. Other contestants included Peter Hughes as a Scottish golfer and Tom Marks as a pirate.

After the costume contest, the Paly Dance Team performed Michael Jackson’s "Thriller."

"We were really excited to perform," sophomore Dance Team member Simone Verbaken said. "We want to show our school spirit and that the team is still going strong."

According to student activities director Allison Davies, fewer students came out to the rally than expected.

"I know there were a lot more people dressed up, and not that many entered the contest," Davies said. "It’s hard to get people out here because everyone goes to Town & Country [at lunch], even though the rally was announced on In Focus."

Although rallies during Spirit Week draw a large number of students, other rallies throughout the year are less popular.

"When it’s not during Spirit Week, [fewer] people dress up, but these rallies are still cute," Ben-Shaul said.