SALINAS VALLEY — Numerous activities, including a parade, drive-in movie and drive-thru trick-or-treating, brought the Halloween spirit to the South Monterey County cities of Soledad, Gonzales and Greenfield last Saturday night.
City of Soledad hosted its first-ever Front Street Spook Fest, which featured a drive-thru parade, and the City of Gonzales presented a free Movies in the Park event on the Centennial Park playing fields. Greenfield hosted a Trick-or-Treat in the Park and costume contest.
At Soledad, 12 vehicles participated in the best decorated vehicles competition that was held before a parade through the city’s streets.
City Council Member Marisela Lara and her family placed first with their Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed Chevy truck. Placing second was a 4×4 Chevy truck and the Spider Mobile.
At Centennial Park in Gonzales, participants at the drive-in movie enjoyed free treats and watched the films “Hocus Pocus” and “Corpse Bride” from the comfort of their vehicles. The large screen was purchased by the City of Gonzales and will be used in future holiday events.
Greenfield’s Trick-or-Treat event was held at Patriot Park, where families could either drive through to receive goodie bags or have their costumed youth walk through while wearing a mask to visit the five different booths set up and get their goodie bag.
More than 1,000 bags were prepared, with 120 left over at the end of the five-hour festival.
“We never had a large crowd,” said Jose Sanchez, director of the Greenfield Community Science Workshop. “We had a steady crowd throughout the day, exactly what we were looking for.”
The science workshop organized the event with the collaboration of Greenfield police, fire and recreation departments.
Participants in the costume contest were able to sign up and have their photo taken, with the virtual judging to take place after Halloween evening and the winners announced Monday in six categories, three each for youth and adults.
Sanchez credited the large time window and giving trick-or-treaters the option to walk or drive through, whichever they felt comfortable with, as contributing to the successful turnout at the event. In case families or youth didn’t have a mask, he said extra masks were available to hand out.
“They were surprised they were able to walk and trick-or-treat the way they did,” Sanchez said of community reaction. “Everyone was socially distanced and wearing masks.”
He said participants not only enjoyed the experience, but also appreciated getting their pictures taken.
Michael Ramirez contributed to this article.
