TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Rotary, church to host Halloween family fun

ADVERTISEMENT

By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 31, 2009

SAN ANTONIO - For those seeking family-oriented alternatives for Halloween fun, two Pasco County organizations are sponsoring free festivities this year.

The Rotary Club of San Antonio will host a Halloween Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. today in San Antonio City Park.

"The Rotary Club of San Antonio decided to sponsor a Halloween Festival this year as a community service project," club spokeswoman Betty Burke said. "There are always a lot of children trick-or-treating in the area, and we would like to bring them together for a fun family event."

The event will feature games, a costume parade at 7 p.m., free snacks, candy and toys, as well as free lemonade, iced tea and apple cider served straight from a "witch's cauldron."

"Snacks will include popcorn, chips, corn on the cob and, of course, lots of candy," Burke said. "Ghoulish Games will include a pumpkin toss, eyeball roll and Ghoulish Guessing Game. Games for the little ones will include a fish pond and beanbag toss."

The only event that costs money will be a cake walk. For 50 cents, guests can walk to win homemade cakes, brownies and cookies.

"Money earned at the cake walk will go toward our club's contribution to Rotary International's Polio Plus campaign," Burke said.

This campaign is an important component of the club's pledge to community and global service, Burke said.

"While polio has been conquered in the United States, it is still an epidemic in four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Rotary, together with the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been working since the mid-1980s to eradicate polio," she said.

"Last year the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $355 million to Rotary International's Polio Plus campaign, and Rotary has responded by committing to raise $200 million over the next three years. Last year, the Rotary Club of San Antonio contributed $1,000 to the $200 Million Challenge."

In Zephyrhills, Trunk-Or-Treat will take place from 6 to 8:30 tonight at First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills.

This third annual event offers an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, church secretary Ruth Walker said.

"We have 25 to 35 cars that come into the parking lot," Walker said. "Families (from the church) decorate the cars, come in costume and pass out candy to all the kids who come."

Walker said the event, which was the idea of Kenneth L. Minton, draws 200 to 300 people each year.

"We want to reach out to all the children, keep them off the streets so they can be someplace safe for Halloween," Walker said.

Trunk-Or-Treat also will feature games, such as a Halloween beanbag toss, with small prizes and a bounce house.

"Everything we have here is for the children," Walker said.

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

The Rotary Club of San Antonio, supported by local merchants, will sponsor a free Halloween Festival for children from 6 to 8 tonight in San Antonio City Park. The event will feature games throughout the evening and a costume parade at 7 p.m. Prizes include gift certificates from local merchants.

For information, call Rotary Club of San Antonio president Will Grief at (352) 206-0386.

The First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills will offer the free Trunk-Or-Treat from 6 to 8:30 tonight. Church members will bring their vehicles, decorated with non-frightening Halloween themes, to the church's west parking lot, pop the trunk or let down the tailgate, and pass out candy to the families who come by to trick-or-treat.

The First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills is at 38635 Fifth Ave. (Main Street).

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT