Redlands Kids Come Downtown for Safe Trick-or-Treating

Downtown Redlands was crawling on Oct. 31 - Halloween - but not with the usual activity of shoppers. Families, children and dogs dressed in Halloween costumes roamed the downtown streets for the Safe Trick-or-Treat event. State Street was closed off to vehicles as children walked door-to-door to local businesses in the event. Hosted by a collaboration between the Sixth Street School of Music and the Frugal Frigate, the event was the opportunity for children to trick-or-treat safely, with parents free of the worry of vehicles driving through the city streets. Jennifer Sparks, head of the Sixth Street School of Music, said the safe trick-or-treat is a "fun family event that everyone can participate in." The school of music provided the evening's live entertainment, where students ranging in age from five to their mid-20s performed musical numbers in costume. The entertainment included everything from piano playing to live duet singing. Teanna Haslett of the Frugal Frigate bookstore hosted live reading and story time events for the children. "Reading stories helps get kids back into reading and it adds to their personal creativity,” she said. She added she felt that Downtown Redlands carries a culture of its own, cultivating a hometown environment and making everyone in the area feel like they are a part of a community. “Downtown Redlands is a locally-bound, heartfelt neighborhood that adds to family life and makes an event like this easy.” She shared that both the music school and the bookstore have been hosting this safe trick-or-treat for four years and look to continue the tradition. “Seeing the kids dressed up is great,” she said. [END] Safe Trick-or-Treat Date: Thursday, October 31, 2013 Time: 3:00 p.m. Google Map Event Location: Ed Hales Park/Downtown Redlands Address: corner of State Street/Fifth Street Redlands CA 92373 Description: Story times/music in Ed Hales Park, 3-5 p.m. 6 p.m. bring costumed pets to 419 E. State St. for “Furr-kids” costume contest. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: On October 31, 2013, Downtown Redlands is alive, but not with the usual activity of shoppers. Families, kids, and even dogs are dressed up in Halloween costumes. Police close down State Street and look on as kids walk door to door of local businesses practicing safe trick or treating. Kids are able to run around and just be themselves without the worry of cars and unsafe street traffic. This event is also hosted in collaboration of Sixth Street School of Music, a local music school, and Frugal Frigate, a local bookstore. Jennifer Sparks, head of the Sixth Street School of Music, says that this is a great “fun family event that everyone can participate in”. Her school provides the live entertainment, as kids ranging from 5 to even 23 are able to perform their musical number in costume. From piano playing to live duet singing, kids are allowed to showcase their ability and add to the spirit of the event. Teanna Haslett from Frugal Frigate also explains what the bookstore’s part in this event is. She partakes in live readings and story time for the kids. “Reading stories helps get kids back into reading and it adds to their personal creativity,” she says. She also adds that Downtown Redlands carries a culture of its own, cultivating a hometown environment and making everyone in the area feel like they are a part of a community. “Downtown Redlands is a locally bound, heartfelt neighborhood that adds to family life and makes for an event like this easy.” She explains that both the school and the bookstore have been doing this for four years and will continue to do so. “Seeing the kids dressed up is great” and bringing families together creates for a community event that is safe and fun, and candy filled.