The cities of Ceres and Hughson are planning fun Halloween events to give children a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

Ceres Recreation Department did away with the longstanding tradition of the Halloween Safety Fun Festival that moved in 2009 from Smyrna Park at the Community Center. Last year the city substituted the event for a Truck-or-Treat event on Fourth Street. The event drew over 28 community booths that gave out candy and prizes to between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

This year the event will take place on Third Street at Whitmore Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Families are encouraged to come out in costume. Groups or businesses that would like to participate by having a trunk or booth – typically decorated with a Halloween theme – should contact the city of Ceres by registering online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us

This year businesses have the option of buying and handing out their own candy or signing up to buy bags of candy from the city.

Hughson event

The city of Hughson is hosting its 7th annual Trunk or Tent and Treat event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween night which falls on a Thursday. Children and adults are encouraged to come to Lebright Park, 6937 Fox Road, in Hughson, dressed in costume.

Those who want to participate and have a trunk or tent at the Hughson event are asked to fill out the form found at http://hughson.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/trunk-or-tent-and-treat-registration-form-2019.pdf and submit to City Hall by Oct. 25. Set-up time will begin at 8 a.m. on Halloween Day.