Cotati keeps the party alive with the return of Halloween
Due to the pandemic, many long-standing events were cancelled across the country in 2020. Fortunately, the City of Cotati found a way to preserve their yearly Halloween event by morphing it into a successful new form. Previously named City Hall-Oween Trick-Or-Treating and Haunted Hallway, it was renamed Candy Land Trick or Treat and changed to an outdoor venue.
City of Cotati Recreation Manager Ashley Wilson described last year’s event as “The first time since the pandemic started that business owners, staff, and parents all worked together. Businesses had fun and everyone seemed happy for the first time in 10 months.” She thought the event was such a success that it would be a good idea to keep the outdoor format in 2021.
The event was a joint venture with the City of Cotati and two local organizations. North Bay Theatrics (formerly STAR Kids Productions), has been a partner with the City of Cotati Parks and Recreation Department since 2016. Their mission is “to provide a safe and inclusive environment that is accessible to all young people; where we create leadership opportunities and foster relationships so all individuals can build confidence while having fun, being themselves, and instilling a sense of value through the performing arts.” They have a firm belief that all students should have access to theatre and arts opportunities regardless of financial backgrounds. Their mentorship programs have helped students become teachers. The Cotati-Rohnert Park Co-op Nursery School is the second partner. It is a private, nonprofit organization and differs from traditional schools in several ways. It is managed and maintained by its member families. Parent participation is the paramount difference. With guidance from the teacher, parents take an active role in their child’s “learning, playing, discovering, and growing together in a safe, supportive environment.” Since parents take an active role in the classroom, they are able to keep the adult-to-child ratio low as well as bring their own talents to the educational process.
Staging this event isn’t without its problems. For example, when it was held indoors, organizers had the luxury of spending a week setting things up. Moving it to an outdoor venue takes that option away because things would have to be left outside overnight and subject to being damaged by the elements. The fate of several offerings, such as a “haunted” area remains to be seen. There will be entertainment, carnival games, performances, costume contests for adults and children and booths dispensing candy. The event headquarters is at La Plaza Park but there will also be vendors throughout the city participating and dispensing candy.
The event will be held rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 31. There is no need to sign up in advance and no cost to attend. Although this is primarily for children, all age groups are encouraged to attend. Last year, masks were required. This year will be guided by the health mandate at the time of the event.
Candy donations are welcomed. The only requirement is that they be individually wrapped instead of loose as in a package of jelly beans. Another option would be to provide candy gift cards purchased at local stores. If you would like to make a candy donation or have questions about the event, contact Ashley Wilson, 707 665-4222 or awilson@cotaticity.org.
Ashley summed up the event by saying in reference to the attendees, “Hopefully, for a few hours they can forget about the rest of the world and just get some candy.”
Marilyn Lane is a Sonoma County resident who worked as a newsroom employee at The Press Democrat for 27 years.
