Eleven-year-old Marina Cesarone will fly to Los Angeles Thursday to attend Hub Network’s first Halloween Bash television event. She also has a chance to win a $25,000 grand prize.

Cesarone, of Marion, recently learned her zombie/vampire costume spooked costume contest judges enough for her to become Montana’s semi-finalist. The honor came with an invitation to the party at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

“We just found out last Friday evening,” Cesarone’s mother, Julie Waltz, said. “It’s been kind of a whirlwind once the shock wore off.” 

Entering the competition was a last-minute decision, Waltz said. Cesarone, who watches Hub, a network for children’s shows, saw the advertisements on TV, but didn’t act until about two hours before the Sept. 29 deadline. 

“I just thought I’d have a chance to win,” Cesarone said. “It’s just really exciting and cool.”

Cesarone put on a firefighter costume she wore last year, but decided it wouldn’t be enough. She bought some face paint and looked to zombies for inspiration. For a final touch she popped in glow-in-the-dark fangs and entered the Spook-tacular category. It took her about an hour to assemble.

Other categories were Howl-arious, Everyday Stuff, Blast from the Past, Animal Kingdom and Mad Genius.

Waltz will accompany her daughter on the trip. She said Cesarone’s grandfather offered them a special surprise by offering to fly out Cesarone’s sister, 8-year-old Carisa Cesarone, who had also entered the competition but didn’t win. They will all spend an additional two days in California and visit Disneyland.

Viewers just might catch a glimpse of Cesarone during the televised Halloween Bash premiere at 6 p.m. Oct. 26 on the Hub Network. 

The Halloween Bash will be hosted by Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live, with musical performances by Cody Simpson and Fifth Harmony.

Celebrity guest judges Martha Stewart, Hal Sparks and Coco Jones will choose a grand prize winner from among 50 semi-finalists in all the categories. 

The grand prize winner will get $25,000 and a trip to Canada for the opportunity of a walk-on role in “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.” 

Category winners also will be chosen for $1,000 prizes. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.