City hosting day-long Halloween soiree

October 25, 2011

A group of youngsters stops for a photo at one of the props set up during last year’s Trunk-or-Treat event after getting their fill of Halloween candy. The city is still looking for residents who are interested in participating this year by decorating their vehicles and handing out candy. Photo submitted

City officials are providing a central location for Halloween festivities this weekend in hopes of bringing the community together and giving kids a safe trick-or-treating environment.
The second annual Truck or Treat event will be held from noon to about 9:30 p.m. Saturday between fields one and two in the Bishop City Park and will include a costume and vehicle decorating contest, a fun run and movies.
“We’ve got a whole day packed with events,” said Bishop Community Services Secretary Karey Poole. “Kids will be able to go from one place where they get candy to another for a barbecue and finish it all off with a movie in the park.”
The day kicks off at noon with registration for the Spooktacular 5K Fun Run and 1K Monster Dash. The starting whistle for the 5K sounds at 2 p.m., with the Monster Dash taking place at 3 p.m.
“We definitely encourage families to come in costume and running shoes,” Poole said. “That’s part of the fun, to see how you can do in a costume.”
After the run, city officials will be taking registration from 3-3:30 p.m. for the vehicle decoration contest.
Poole said everyone is invited to dress their car, truck or SUV in its very own Halloween costume and bring it down to the park, providing a safe, fun atmosphere where local youngsters can trick-or-treat.
At last year’s event, Poole said, more than a dozen groups and residents decked out their vehicles to raise funds for the senior class at Bishop High School.
This year, the $5 entry fee for the vehicle decoration contest goes to support the city’s youth programs, from the Holiday Craft Extravaganza, which gives kids an opportunity to make Christmas presents for friends and family,
to the Thanksmas event
Nov. 21 and 22 that provides day care and arts and crafts for youngsters to give parents an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping.
As of Monday, Poole said there were only four entries for the vehicle decoration contest, and the city is hoping to get many more.
Poole said last year the vehicle decorations ranged from pumpkin and scarecrow themes to a mobile haunted house in an SUV.
“The city is going to decorate its flatbed too, but, of course, it’s won’t be in the contest.”
Winners of the vehicle decoration contest will receive a dinner-for-two gift certificate from Whiskey Creek (first place) or Amigos (second place) along with a coupon for free popcorn and soda at Bishop Twin Theater.
Judging for the vehicle contest will be at 4:30 p.m.
From there, everyone is invited to head over to the Bishop Youth Football barbecue before gearing up for the children’s costume contest at 5:30 p.m.
“We’re partnering with J. Rousek Giggle Time Toys, so we have all kinds of prizes for the kids costume contest,” Poole said.
At 7 p.m., everyone is invited to what Poole called the evening’s “show stopper,” the Thrill the World event which aims to set a new world record for the largest simultaneous dance, set, appropriately, to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The Thrill the World Event will also include a “Best Zombie” costume contest.
The evening will finish off with a spooky movie double feature in the park at 7:30 p.m.
Poole said both movies are appropriate for all ages, with the first geared more towards younger families and the second, though still kid-friendly, providing a couple more Halloween thrills.