Spooktacular White House Halloween celebrations boosted by NCA candy support - Confectionery Production

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, with their traditional Halloween celebrations, courtesy of candy support from the NCA. Picture: The White House

Posted: 31 October 2024

Related core topics: Business news, Cocoa & chocolate

Related topics: celebrations, confectionery, Halloween, Joe Biden, White House

Related regions: US, worldwide

The National Confectioners Association has once again helped weave some suitably spooky magic for Halloween celebrations at the White House in Washington, reports Neill Barston.

President Joe Biden and First Lady were on hand to meet and greet families as part of an invited audience of around 8,000 people marking the occasion last night, courtesy of treats supplied by NCA member companies, as festivities continue today around the world.

Notably, according to the confectionery trade group, American confectionery sales topped $6.4 billion in 2023, with an increase of 3-5% in the region anticipated to have been spent during this month, and in previous months in the build-up to the increasingly influential celebration.

As the White House noted, First Lady Jill Biden, who has been a teacher for 40 years, including years spent as a reading specialist, created this year’s theme, “Hallo-READ!,” with the White House’s festive décor featuring famous literary tales and spooky story time.

Dr. Biden’s theme encourages families and children to once again grab a flashlight and spooky book and enjoy a hauntingly fine read together to mark wider Halloween celebrations.

Guests for this year’s event included children trick-or-treating along the White House South Lawn, with families having the chance to mingle with friends and neighbours of the Bidens, and representatives across government departments. The celebration will be Joe Biden’s final one as part of his time in the Oval Office, following his recent decision to stand down as president – with his successor, either Vice President Kamala Harris, or Donald Trump due to be elected on November 5.

“The National Confectioners Association is proud to collaborate with The White House for Halloween 2024, bringing the time-honoured tradition of trick-or-treating to the South Lawn of the People’s House. NCA’s member companies make the treats that help families enhance the special occasions and events associated with the Halloween season – whether they’re celebrating in their own cities and towns or on Pennsylvania Avenue. No matter which treats they prefer, Americans can agree that every celebration is sweeter with chocolate and candy.”