LAKEPORT >> What a difference a blocked off route for festivities can make as turnout for the 2024 Trick or treat on Main Street flourished with a steady stream of party goers enjoying the open spaces to take advantage of both sides of the thoroughfare October 31.
The Rotary Club of Lakeport and the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport were delighted to bring “Trick or Treat On Main Street” to the Lakeport community. Organizers blocked off Main Street from 5th Street North to Armstrong Street for this event. Businesses gleefully participated by either opening their doors or coming downtown and setting up a table. Trick or treating began at 2:30 pm and ended at 5 p.m. The Costume Contest occurred on the steps of the museum in Museum Park starting at 4 p.m. There were different contests for different ages.
Serving up the hard stuff (candy) to eager youngsters at the Clearlake Club Saloon & Sports Bar was Flo, the Progressive Insurance gal, also known as Lorna Higdon co-owner (with husband Mike) who has been doing this for 13 years now. “Over the years I’ve been Flo or a witch, or scarecrow,” said Higdon. “It’s just a lot of fun. I recycle (costumes) every year. But Flo is probably my go-to costume- it’s comfortable.”
Lori Baca on the other hand stood vigilant at her post stationed in front of the Lake County Special Districts post in midnight blue fatigues with a menacing spirits vaporizing machinegun anchored to her death ray backpack. “I’m the ghost buster,” she hissed. Baca is customer services supervisor at the special districts. She has participated in the Halloween spoof for eight years. “Have you seen any ghosts?” she taunted pedestrians who walked by. “I like dressing up as anything other than what I am,” she confided. “This is a good turn out; they shut the streets down this year. Last year we were all variations of pirates. Every year we pick a different theme.”
She was ably assisted by Customer Service Techs, Jessica and Katti. “I definitely like it better than last year, because they closed off Main St.” Jessica said. “I just love the atmosphere, it’s a change for the day.”
A couple doors north was Sandra Campos, owner of Fixin’ it up with Sandra who has participated in the Halloween festivities for three years. “I love it, I think it was better without the cars,” she said. Dressed up in a skeleton costume she recalled, “It’s always a skeleton.”
At the entrance steps of the Museum at Museum Park, Kiwanis member Mike Ewing manned his bullhorn to summon all the costume contestants. The competition was divided into categories by school grade starting with Pre-K and running through to 8th grade. Winning competitors in each grade won $20, while second place won $15 and third, $10.
Beginning with Pre-K, first place was awarded to a hoody wearing toddler piloting his mouse trap. For Kindergarten, first went to a guillotine victim, the headless horseman, For first grade, a lovely young lady in pink, the cowgirl. The second grade winner was a young man in the orange fright wig. Third grade was a ballerina slip of a girl, the butterfly girl. Fourth grade it was the green court jester. Fifth grade happened to be the marshmallow man. Meanwhile, in sixth grade the Spider man took top prize. In seventh grade was a youngster in a green blimp suit. And in eighth great a young lady in her black angel costume. There was also a family group category won by the aliens.
Assisting Master of Ceremonies Ewing were; Dennis Rollins, John Wiskchen and Diane Anthony. Judges were; Val Schweifler, Jon Parkinson, Cheri Quaratola and Nancy Hendricks.
Special thanks goes to Scully Packing House who generously supplied competitors with complimentary pears.
