Locals have many opportunities to enjoy Halloween fun during the upcoming week. Halloween night is packed with family events. In Dos Palos, Halloween activities are followed quickly this year with the Christmas Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 4th. The Sixth Annual Dos Palos Trunk-or-Treat event will be during the evening on Oct. 31.
It is held on Center Avenue between Blossom Street and Almond Street. The first hour, from 5 to 6 p.m., is dedicated to set up. “Trunk-or-Treating” for candy begins at 6 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. Six years ago, Megan Bryant, Shelly Wright and other locals were challenged to provide a safe Halloween community event.
They decided that a gathering downtown would be great for community spirit. With the Trunk-or-Treat concept successful in other communities, Dos Palos gave it a try.
The response six years ago was phenomenal. Folks enjoyed visiting while youngsters gathered goodies. Local parents have organized and sponsored the event each year since.
Everyone is welcome to participate and there is no entry fee. Have fun sharing with other families. For Trunk-or-Treat information contact Megan Bryant at 209-715-0600 or Shelly Wright at 209-509-6529.
The Second Annual Dos Palos Community Halloween Carnival begins at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31. Thrills and fun continue until 10 p.m. The Carnival is in downtown Dos Palos in the 1600 block of Center Avenue. The area will be closed to traffic. A haunted house is the main attraction. The fun continues with food vendors and carnival games. Children are urged to come with an empty treat bag to fill with carnival prizes and candy.
For Halloween Carnival vendor space or information, please call El Tarasco Bravo at 209-704-8266. Halloween evening is also the grand finale for Cotton Tree Ranch’s Pumpkin Patch and Haunted at 9194 West Highway 152, Dos Palos.
Quickly following Halloween on Nov. 4th is the Christmas Holiday Bazaar sponsored by the Dos Palos Women’s Improvement Club. This longstanding event draws vendors from around the westside. Doors open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the DES Hall, 1357 Elgin Ave. in Dos Palos.
The Christmas Holiday Bazaar offers gifts, food items, decorations, and vendors. Come enjoy lunch while visiting with locals from around the westside.
In the past few years, regular Bazaar attendees missed seeing the vendor JC Made. Owner Jennifer Cox creates toy animals and creatures using the Japanese amigurumi crocheting technique.
This year, JC Made is back after conquering a medical condition. With her fingers nimble again, Jennifer has been working overtime to develop a huge inventory. Jennifer’s animals will delight any child and adults too. Some come with imaginative play items or have adornments, cute dresses, or mini scarves.
Jennifer recently created a darling horse complete with saddle and halter and its own handcrafted wooden mini stall. If no one claims it by November 4, find it at the Bazaar.
The crocheted horse is a complicated project and a highlight of her collection. Jennifer comments, “The amount of grace, passion and execution to finish a single amigurumi like the horse is tremendous.”
Jennifer explains that each animal is made with “real love.” Her recuperation time was torture. Being away from her craft was very difficult, and she is so glad to be back.
Among the JC Made collection are a duck keychain, a turtle pair, a dinosaur and a friendly rat. A proud accomplishment, Jennifer’s rat was featured and shared by a pattern designer. For information about the Christmas Holiday Bazaar contact Peggy Jelen at 209-752-0189.
Make plans to enjoy the upcoming fortnight. Many locals have gone all out for locals to have great times.
(Janet Miller is a freelance writer specializing in family and faith. She offers Family Prayers and Activities: Weekly Guides on compact disc for families to explore the Bible together. Email jmiller@dospalos.org.)
