The transition from summer to fall brings about a change in our surroundings. From green leaves to beautiful hints of red, orange and yellow. From summer shandys to pumpkin spice lattes. Fall has arrived in Cleveland, with Halloween on the horizon.
The Central community takes pride in its Halloween celebrations, as they offer a chance for people to come together on behalf of children to have a good time. With violence and crime continuing to increase in the city, residents have voiced concerns about taking their children outside for trick-or-treating door to door. The Friendly Inn and St. Vincent Charity will both be offering family-friendly Halloween celebrations.
Harvest Fest at Friendly Inn
Johnny Robinson Jr.,vice president of programming at the Friendly Inn, told Signal Cleveland there is a strong need to create a safe environment for families to enjoy the holiday.
“It‘s important for us to host a safe space where families and children can come together to trick-or-treat.” Robinson told Signal Cleveland. “We just want to provide some resources, candy, and for everyone to have a good time.”
The Friendly Inn‘s annual Harvest Fest will be held on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ward 5 Council Member Richard Starr and the Jeep Crusaders are partnering with Friendly Inn to provide treats.
The first hour will feature indoor activities such as games, pumpkin painting, face painting, and a costume distribution on a first-come, first-serve basis. A movie and step show will be provided by Foluke Cultural Arts.
The second hour will feature the famous trunk-to-trunk trick-or- treating. Adult team members fill their car trunks with candy and kids run all over the lot, car to car, collecting treats. Community members are encouraged to wear costumes to get into the Halloween spirit.
Ward 5 resident Shelley Davis and her two daughters have attended the event for the past six years. “I took them for the first time in 2017” Davis said. “They just love it. They love being around other kids, and it’s a good time for the adults too. This is our favorite time of year, so we are really looking forward to it!”
St. Vincent’s annual Halloween event
St. Vincent Charity continues to serve the community by hosting its annual Halloween festivities the Friday before the holiday. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, the healthcare campus’ back lawn will transform into a pumpkin filled party . Partners for the event include Sisters of Charity Health System, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood. Activities will include games, bubble wands, a local DJ, pumpkin giveaway, a boxed lunch, and, of course, plenty of candy and treats for the children.
Thom Olmstead, St. Vincent’s executive director of Government and External Affairs, told Signal Cleveland, “On average, over 250 kids from Central attend the event each year along with moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.”
As at the Friendly Inn, all attendees are encouraged to dress up.
Happy Halloween Cleveland! Let’s have some long-overdue fun.
If there is an event in Central that you think the listening team should know about, you can email me at najee@signalcleveland.org.
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