BY ALYSSON AREDAS
209 Staff Reporter
Although it is the norm for trick-or-treaters to receive candy on Halloween, this year costume-wearers can also expect fresh, locally-sourced produce and handcrafted items during the Turlock Certified Farmers Market’s Fall Harvest Festival.
The upcoming Fall Harvest Festival, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 31, will also mark the last market of the 2015 season. To celebrate another “phenomenally successful year,” Market Manager Derek Griffin plans to end the season properly with live blues entertainment from Tony and the Tough Times, food, and—of course—Halloween activities for the kids.
“All of the vendors will have candy so youngsters in their Halloween costumes can trick-or-treat at all the booths,” said Griffin. “This is just another venue for people to bring their children down to trick-or-treat at the market and listen to live music, especially for those people who don’t want to have their kids out at night.
“They can bring their kids and have a little bit different trick-or-treating experience—without all the scary stuff,” continued Griffin.
Prior to the Harvest Festival, Griffin said that the Turlock Certified Farmers Market will also be distributing free pumpkins during today’s market at the information booth.
“It will be first come, first serve,” said Griffin. “It’s just another way for us to thank the Turlock community and give free pumpkins to the people that need them.”
Trick-or-treaters can also venture further than the Fall Harvest Festival for more Halloween fun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Kiwanis Club of Turlock’s “Trick-or-Treat Downtown” event.
Sponsored by the Turlock Journal, this event invites the community to congregate at Central Park to pick up a map of participating businesses and free popcorn before engaging in trick-or-treating fun along Main Street, where over 30 local businesses will be giving out candy to participating children.
“This event provides a safe, family friendly atmosphere to take the kids around during the day for trick-or-treating,” said Kiwanis Club President Trina Walley.
Later that evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Stanislaus State will host its 21st annual Haunted Housing and Residential Life Halloween! event for local children and their families.
Run exclusively by the housing residential community, the event will feature a scary circus-themed haunted house, a safe environment to mingle with others, crafts, costume contests, and treats, with at least 65 dorm rooms giving out candy. The Housing Office will also reflect a “Star Wars” and “Frozen” theme.
Additionally, children will get an opportunity to participate in 13 different games throughout the complex, take advantage of a number of photo ops, and receive a free book courtesy of campus honor society Phi Kappa Phi.
“This is a fun interactive environment for children from the community to interact with university college students and get their first taste of being on a university campus,” said director of Housing and Residential Life Jennifer Humphrey.
The event will take place in the Housing Complex at Stanislaus State, with parking provided in Lot 6 and Lot 7. For more information, visit csustan.edu/housing.
