CARLSBAD — Ghosts, ghouls and goblins in all shapes and forms will flood the streets Saturday.
Kids of all ages will be able to engage in a merchant trick-or-treat event from 2 to 6 p.m. organized by Carlsbad Causes for Community (C3). The local nonprofit, however, has a weekend chock full of activities for people of all ages, although the trick-or-treating is the featured attraction.
Live music featuring The Elements, a band from Carlsbad High School, a bounce house, face painters and a fire truck from station No. 1 (from 2 to 3 p.m.) will be on hand Saturday.
Deb Ferraro, founder of Carlsbad Village Yoga and C3, said the goal of Saturday’s event is to provide a safe environment for kids.
“We are going for a safe trick-or-treat where the merchants collaborate to provide activities for Carlsbad citizens, kids to have some fun on Halloween,” she said. “We have more than 30 merchants participating.”
The weekend, though, begins in conjunction with one of C3’s partners, the Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club, 3115 Roosevelt St., Friday. The club will host its annual haunted house at its downtown location from 6:15 to 8 p.m. The cost is $1 for youth, $2 for adults and club members are free.
From there, the evening moves to Carlsbad Village Yoga’s base, 2801-B Roosevelt St., for a night full of fun for all ages. Costume contests, a taco bar and drinks, with a price tag of $25 and runs from 7 to 11 p.m.
On Sunday, the fun continues with the Village Fair.
“We’re hosting a C3 community party here and will have open mic,” Ferraro said of Sunday. “We will have face painting that day as well.”
C3 took over the annual Halloween in the Village three years ago after the city dropped funding of the event, Ferraro said. Wanting to continue the event, Ferraro rallied local businesses to the cause and each year it has grown.
“It’s been such a successful event that we keep continuing it,” Ferraro said. “It’s a combination effort from some of the small businesses here.”
Another purpose, however, is to draw more residents to the Village as a way to check out local businesses and how the area has improved over the past several years.
“It’s a good way to explore,” Ferraro said of the event. “The businesses love participating and it’s good exposure for them.”
Those entities participating, meanwhile, will display a large candy corn sign, although Ferraro said several businesses that joined late will not have the signs.
Candy-seekers will begin at C3’s headquarters and receive a map of those businesses involved.
