Community Enjoys “Halloween in the Park”

City of La Feria Annual Event Offered Safe Fun for All Ages

City events committee volunteers and staff began at noon to create a spooky atmosphere for the popular “Halloween in the Park” event held each year at the Veteran’s Memorial Park in La Feria. This year the free festivities were held on Saturday, October 25. The workers decorated the park with spider webs, pumpkins, the gates were covered with spooky signs and hand-made scary creatures were all popping up, even around the haunted graveyard.

The spooky fun began at 4 p.m. with a welcome from Mayor Victor Gonzalez, Jr. and the echoing of scary sounds was produced by DJ Armando Gonzalez. There were games and rides, a costume contest, a Zumbathon, costume parade and music by Grupo Evolucion.

The La Feria NFL Flag Football games were rescheduled during the event so their families were able to join in the fun at the park. The teams dressed in costumes to play; for instance, a team of Supermans played a team of Batmans.

City office staff created and ran three games including Duck Pong, Bean Bag Toss and Ring Toss. The La Feria 4-H had a Bean Bag Toss and a Pumpkin Punch and the City Commission ran a Bowling Game. The ever popular, Duck Tank, was again sponsored by the La Feria Volunteer Fire Department with a line that never ended. Kids loved the new moon jump and The Haunted Trail was a hit with an eight minute train ride. The Halloween Photo Booth with backdrop and hay bales was also a great addition to the new and improved game area. Participants were heard to comment that “they had a blast!”

Eighty seven registered contestants participated in the Costume Contest from babies to adults. There were 15 judges for the event that was organized by City Staffer Esmeralda Sanchez. There were many more attendees in costume that did not enter the contest. (See winners listed at the end of story)

Sigler, Winston, Greenwood and Associates was a Silver Sponsor and ran a bingo game. El Centro Donated items for two of the games, pumpkins for the Haunted Trail Train Ride and two cases of candy. SPIRIT Halloween store donated 8,000 feet of spider webbing and Power Ranger glow bracelets. Others donating included: The O’Loughlin Family, The Rodriguez Family, The Outlaw Family, Rosalinda Taguilas, Zulema Vuittonet, La Feria Recreation Center and First United Methodist Church in La Feria. More than 40 bags of candy were donated by residents and businesses. A large group of student volunteers also helped with the event.

Food vendors sold brisket potatoes, tacos, lonches, roasted corn, hot dogs, nachos, hot cheetos with cheese, kettle corn, funnel cakes and fresh lemonade.

At 7 p.m., Grupo Evolucion took the stage for a two hour concert and the evening closed with a short fireworks display.

COSTUME CONTEST WINNERS:
0-2 yrs old:
1st Place Mason Fuentes – 1yr old – Cow
2nd Place Tessa Torres – 2 yrs old – Repunzel
3rd Place Jordan Bartle -11 months – Pirate

3-4 yrs old:
1st Place Ashley Ayala – 4 yrs old – Queen of Hearts
2nd Place Cortana Guerrero – 4 yrs old – Sock Monkey
3rd Place Jessica Delvalle – 3yrs old – Tinkerbell

5-6 yrs old:
1st Place Emily Urbina – 6 yrs old – Doctor
2nd Place Fernando Najar – 5 yrs old – Ronald McDonald
3rd Place Faith Chavarria – 5 yrs old – Tinkerbell

7-8 yrs old:
1st Place Alex Luna – 7 yrs old – Butterfly
2nd Place Zoe Garza – 8yrs old – Clown
3rd Place Emily Garza – 8yrs old – Princess Elsa

9-10 yrs old:
1st Place Adan Mendoza – 9 yrs old – Lego Ninja
2nd Place Israel Taguilas – 10 yrs old – Ninja
3rd Place Harmony Tovar – 10 yrs old – Cleopatra

11-12 yrs old:
1st Place Sadie De los Santos – 12 yrs old – Bat Woman
2nd Place Jaime Martinez – 11 yrs old – Zombie Jogger
3rd Place Kendra Rubio – 11 yrs old – ‘KATRINA’ Hip Hop Artist

13-18 yrs old:
1st Place Kimberly Ayala – 13 yrs old – Alice
2nd Place NONE
3rd Place NONE

Over 18 yrs old:
1st Place Flora Tamez – Witch
2nd Place Arianna Garcia – Fairy Queen
3rd Place Veronica Gamboa – Buccaneer Pirate