Gustin and Newman knew how to throw a Halloween party. On October 31, Newman and Gustin hosted a block party called “Trunk or Treat” in the downtown area. This is an annual Halloween festival dedicated to donating free candy from the trunks of cars and trucks. But there was more to it than trick-or-treating.
“They’re all having fun with people dressed like their characters or their favorite cartoon characters. And yeah, it’s a really good idea to leave your car here and load it up with candy and scenery.” I think so,” said Michael Chavez, a Gustin local.
At the same time, Gustin and Newman were also hosting events at the same time. Main Street in Newman was filled with vehicles parked in reverse with Halloween-themed trunks showing. The trunk was hosted by local residents who happily handed out free candy. Several stalls and food stalls were lined up at the back of the downtown plaza.
“We wanted to bring the community together. And I work with the school district and the city parks and rec. And this event has happened many times over the past few years. And then there’s the coronavirus. “And we decided to go all out this year, and I think it worked out great,” said Alison Cassidy, Beyond the Bell District Coordinator for the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District. said.
Gustine had a video game theme decorated throughout the event. Almost all the trunks were decorated according to the theme. Most noticeable was a tall drive-in-style backdrop that played video game-themed movies. Parents, children, and event participants were seated in front of the stadium, enjoying the spectacle. Daniel Gomes, owner of DJ Dan Entertainment, hosted his 360 degree camera stand for event attendees.
“I think it’s amazing. All the kids come out and say trick-or-treating and I love seeing everyone. We have Miss Gustin and Miss Gustin’s first runner-up here, and we have a little The kids were here earlier, handing out candy and engaging with the kids. And it’s a great event for everyone to participate in,” Alicia Alamo said.
The community wants to keep the street a trick-or-treating place. Both locations felt safe. Local police, paramedics and fire departments were there. Trick-or-treaters walked around confidently and enjoyed what the event had to offer.
Both events were designed with the community in mind and an environment that children could enjoy. There was so much to explore at both locations, and there was one thing most kids looked forward to after trick-or-treating. “Eat candy!” said Isabella Savivard, a student at Von Renner Elementary School.