Quick Take

For the fourth year, photographer Jana Marcus set up her lights and camera on Halloween to capture portraits from Santa Cruz's Pacific Avenue in all its chaotic, festive and nocturnal glory.

There’s nothing quite like Halloween night on Pacific Avenue — a swirling parade of fantasy, fright, and fabulous self-expression.

For the fourth time, I set up my lights and camera amid the chaos to capture Santa Cruz in all its nocturnal glory. From vampires to stormtroopers, pirates to pop culture icons, this is the night when everyone becomes the lead in their own play — and I get a front-row seat.

Maybe it’s my theater roots, or maybe it’s the many costume designers in my family, both past and present, but I’ve always been drawn to the way people reveal themselves when they’re pretending to be someone else. Halloween is pure theater — unfiltered creativity with a touch of mischief. And honestly, I love a good portrait and a good costume in equal measure.

What follows is a glimpse of the night’s magic: Santa Cruz at its most unmasked — even when everyone’s in disguise.

Left to right: Scott as a Victorian vampire; Kalen in peacock feathers; Vincent as Van Gogh; Heidi as a court jester; Sonya and friend as red devil and skeleton; and Jarrod, shining in gold. Credit: Jana Marcus
Left to right: Frightful Marty and lightsaber fighter; Emma and Tom as Marvel superheroes; Miguel and friends as stormtroopers and Boba Fett; Elizabeth and friend as Deadpool; Fabiola as Princess Leia with her Han Solo; and James as the Mandalorian with Grogu at his side. Credit: Jana Marcus
Left to right: Timothy as the black and white man; Michael as a slice of lime; Celeste celebrates DĂ­a de los Muertos; Melinda and friend in New Orleans finery; Tyler as a clown/jester and friend in sunflower glasses; Jamie and friend are ghoulish clowns; and Jeremiah is the “It: Welcome to Derry” nightmare. Credit: Jana Marcus
Left to right: Killer clowns are Ronney and friend; Anneled and friend display true Santa Cruz style; Naima as Medusa with her pink-haired terminator; Julie as a “cereal” killer; Kit and friends as playful clowns; Eric as Chucky; and Juan as a masked soldier from “Squid Game.” Credit: Jana Marcus
Left to right: Cheryl and friend in capes and masks; Owen as a witch; Martin is a scream with his friend in festive jester attire; Alexi as Cleopatra; Tiffany and friend are the dancing skeletons; and The Great Morgani in all his fluffy flair. Credit: Jana Marcus
Left to right: Mark is “no Kings” with his jester sidekick, Heather; Adrienne as a forest goddess; David is a sunflower painted on a utility box in Scotts Valley; Kristina monkeys around with George, her banana; Shannon wears flapper attire and her friend is a purple-haired alien; Iris and friend perform the chocolate cake punishment from Matilda. Credit: Jana Marcus
The Halloween photography crew. Left to right: Kim Ives Hicks, Eric Sassaman, Jana Marcus and Amy Scott. Credit: Jana Marcus

A native Santa Cruzan, Jana Marcus has deep roots in the local theatre and arts scene. Daughter of renowned theatre director Wilma Marcus Chandler and famed poet and film critic Morton Marcus, Jana has...