The West Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau will host a ‘ Grab & Go Pumpkin Festival’ on Friday, Oct. 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Youth Bureau Services is located at 84 Broadway in Richmond. The community is invited to drive through and grab a pumpkin, along with a treat bag and go.
The drive thru will be held in the Youth Services Bureau’s parking lot. The event is being sponsored WCCYSB Board of Directors, and their faith-based partners: Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Davis Chapel CME Church and Providence Baptist Church.
Nicholl Park Candy Giveaway
Rodney Alamo Brown, founder of Soulful Softball Sunday, is hosting a Halloween Candy Drive-By Giveaway at Nicholl Park on Saturday, Oct. 31.
The giveaway will take place at 32nd Street and MacDonald Ave. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
“The pandemic has dampened children’s spirits not having their annual Halloween parties at school as the social isolation is creating more harm than good, so I thought let’s at least bring some smiles to the faces of the youth,” said Brown when asked why he’s holding the event. “We seek to give away between 200- 500 bags of candy! The drive thru is very simplistic, participants must remain in their vehicles and children must be present with all occupants wearing mask.”
Volunteers will walk up to the vehicle and present the stapled bags of goodies.
Brown noted if volunteers from the community would like to help bag the candy goodies hours before the event, they are welcome to participate.
Brown said Soulful Softball Sunday plans to do this event annually.
“Soulful Softball Sunday is committed to serving the community at large with sincere love during these troubling times,” Brown said.
For more information on the event or volunteering for it, contact Rodney Alamo Brown at his Facebook Instant Messenger.
Read with Me: RPD Virtual Storytime & Halloween Costume Contest: Officers from the Richmond Police Department (RPD) are hosting a Halloween Virtual Storytime for kids via a live webinar on Zoom Fri., Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. (Look for the Zoom link on the RPD’s social media sites as the date draws near). For more details, click here.
Trunk or Treat Car Decoration Contest: Over in Point Richmond, the #TeamDubb Trunk or Treat 2020 will take place from 6-9 p.m. Sat., Oct. 31 in Starbuck’s parking lot at 78 Railroad Ave. Organizers invite community members to decorate the family car and drive on over for candy, music, raffles and a ‘Best Trunk or Treat Car Decoration’ contest.” West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) Board Trustee Carolyn Wysinger will share her thoughts on “reimagining WCCUSD as a 21st century school district.” Attendees are asked to bring masks, hand sanitizer and practice all social distancing guidelines. Learn more here.
Halloween Drive-In: Richmond’s Traverse Fitness will play home to a three-hour, supernatural spectacular Oct. 30 and 31, when Princess SF and Skyhigh Odditorium present the “Halloween Drive-In,” with performances by drag artists, aerialists, ninjas and more enjoyed from the comfort and safety of spectators’ own cars. Hosted by Kochina Rude and Lisa Frankenstein, the event will include DJ sets, a projected live feed, aerial acrobats, performers and dancers from the Skyhigh Odditorium Dragonettes and performances by Traverse Fitnesses’ own Ninja Warriors. Guests should bring their own food and libations and “lewks” are encouraged. Masks and COVID-19 health guidelines will be strictly enforced.
Traverse Fitness is located at 1 West Barrett Ave. in Richmond; the event will take place in the front parking lot. Tickets to the Halloween Drive-In range from $50 to $200 and the show will be presented Oct. 30 and 31 from 7-10 p.m. For more info or to purchase tickets, click here.
ABC Tree Farms Pumpkin Patch: Now through Sat., Oct. 31, ABC Tree Farms is returning to Richmond to host its annual pumpkins patch. Although the company is scaling back on its offerings due to COVID-19, they will have inflatable slides for kids ages 4-12 (socks required), paint ball and, of course, the pumpkin patch. Cash and major credit cards are accepted; no checks. ABC Tree Farms sets up its temporary home at 2200 Hilltop Mall Rd. near Walmart. Hours are Mon. through Thurs. 3-8 p.m. and Fri. through Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. COVID-19 guidelines are enforced. For more info, click here.
Barrett Avenue Hill: An unofficial but always dependable Halloween spectacle in Richmond is the stretch of Barrett Avenue that runs uphill East of San Pablo Avenue. There you will find a scattering of “Halloween houses” that go all-in on decorating their front yards and facades for the occasion—ghosts, ghouls, witches, spiders, bats, gravestones and pumpkins to boot—a welcome mat for lovers of the macabre if ever there was one. If you go, be sure to look for the white house with the pumpkin-head at the Brooks Avenue cross street—and watch out for the flying ghosts! In the age of COVID, a drive up or down this stretch of Barrett Avenue from the socially distanced safety of your car will help you keep the Halloween spirit alive while staying socially distanced.
SAN PABLO
Spooktacular Costume Contest: The City of San Pablo’s Community Services Department is celebrating the season of scary with a Virtual Halloween Costume Contest with these categories: best homemade, scariest, cutest, best group, most original and best pet costume. Community members can enter by Thurs., Oct. 29 by visiting the City of San Pablo’s Facebook page and uploading a photo of your costume with the hashtag #SPHALLOWEEN2020, as well as the hashtag of your aforementioned costume category. Costume winners will be featured in the City’s Halloween Day Virtual Parade video. For more info, click here.
PINOLE
Dumlao’s Academy Of Martial Arts Halloween Trunk or Treat: Join Renee Zamboanga Dumlao of Dumlao’s Academy of Martial Arts Sat., Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m. for a Halloween Trunk or Treat in the parking lot at 920 San Pablo Ave. in Pinole. In an event that’s open to the public, parents are invited to decorate their car trunks and bring their kids for free. Those interested in donating trunk space, time and candy should contact the organizer. Questions? Call 510.724.1951.