Home » Trick-or-Treat: Give Me A Reason!

Trick-or-Treat: Give Me A Reason!

by Kirby Lindsay, posted 25 October 2013

 

Don't forget - costumes, treats and fun, otherwise known as Trick-or-Treat in Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
Don’t forget – costumes, treats and fun, otherwise known as Trick-or-Treat in Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

The Trick-or-Treat In Fremont, sponsored by Theo Chocolate, takes place this year on Thursday, from 3p – 6p.  The date is October 31st – also known, by every American child, as Halloween.

On this day, most storefront businesses in Fremont – retail and restaurant, up hill and down, West and East – distributes treats to kids, in costume and accompanied by an adult.  This happens every year, and has for more than 15.

And as has happened for the last two years, from 4p – 5p, Bubbleman Garry Golightly will show off his amazing feats of bubble magic in Red Triangle (behind the Lenin statue) sponsored by Heritage Bank.

I organize this effort but the businesses and the children (thanks to their parents) really make it happen.

Why To Participate?

Every year, I think it’s a no-brainer.  Why not participate?  And every year, I encounter people I have to convince to get involved – both businesses and parents.  So, for 2013, I have created the definitive list of reasons why…and it works for both!

During Trick-or-Treat in Fremont, Bubbleman shows off his bubble magic to the kids. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
During Trick-or-Treat in Fremont, Bubbleman shows off his bubble magic to the kids. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

5. Bubbleman – The addition of Garry Golightly and his spectacular, shining bubbles provides a delightful Halloween distraction.  It does cut into trolling-for-treats-time, but being scheduled at the height of the action, the Bubble Exposition eases some of the crowd pressure on participating businesses.  More importantly, perhaps, the Exhibition provides an alternative for children with allergies, for the very young, and for those parents who want an option beyond sugary sweets.  Last year all three reasons attracted children with parents who work at Fremont businesses!

4. It’s Good – Pacific Northwest evenings don’t make slogging along sidewalks of the suburbs attractive, even in the Fremont residential areas.  Fremont business people often don’t get home in time (if they even live in traditional single-family residential areas) to distribute treats.  Instead, Fremonster families can enjoy the generosity (and the children tell me they are VERY generous) of our retailers and restaurants, and our businesses build good will out of a good deed, plus pulling potential customers inside their establishments.

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3. It’s Free – For me, this is reason #1, but the ‘free’ is conditional.  Yes, businesses must provide their own treats – chocolate or raisins.  Yes, parents might miss work to hurry their kids into costume immediate after school.  However, for return on investment, seriously, is there anything that gives such splendiferous returns?

2. Sight-seeing – Every year I hear detailed descriptions from all the Trick-or-Treat participants – businesses who enjoy seeing the cute and/or clever kids in costume, and parents (and kids) exploring new businesses, visiting old favorites and checking out ones never-before-explored.

1. It’s Fun – More than anything else, though, every year businesses and kids tell me about the fun!  They’re exhausted – so many kids come in, so many businesses to visit – and worn from the sugar high (I always get the blame when employees and/or employers over buy candy, then eat it,) but everyone is smiling, smiling, smiling…

The List – Participating Businesses

Trick-or-Treat In Fremont brings the fun, for everyone, including Bubbleman at Red Triangle. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
Trick-or-Treat In Fremont brings the fun, for everyone, including Bubbleman at Red Triangle. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

Thanks to Cougar Mountain Productions, an official website for Trick-or-Treat gives an expanding list of participating businesses in alphabetical order, and an impressive Google map that pinpoints their locations.

And here is the list of 114 other reasons to Trick-or-Treat in Fremont, broken down by area:

East

Center

Trick-or-Treating in Fremont - here at etg - brings joy to participants, business and children. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '13
Trick-or-Treating in Fremont – here at etg – brings joy to participants, business and children. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’13
Chasing bubbles in Red Triangle, with Bubbleman supervising the fun, during Trick-or-Treat In Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
Chasing bubbles in Red Triangle, with Bubbleman supervising the fun, during Trick-or-Treat In Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

West

Barb Morgen, at the Fremont Brown Paper Tickets offices, in the spirit and distributing treats during Trick-or-Treat. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
Barb Morgen, at the Fremont Brown Paper Tickets offices, in the spirit and distributing treats during Trick-or-Treat. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

Top Of The Universe

 

In Red Triangle, Bubbleman makes magic for all during Trick-or-Treat In Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct '12
In Red Triangle, Bubbleman makes magic for all during Trick-or-Treat In Fremont. Photo by K. Lindsay, Oct ’12

 

This year, also, there will be one at-large place to Trick-or-Treat.  A wandering treat distributor can be sought by vigilant children.  Stop the Fremocentrist.com representative and say the special phrase, ‘Trick-or-Treat!’ for an additional goodie.

Trick-or-Treat in Fremont always overwhelms me – in its simplicity and the generosity it brings out in everyone.  Happy Halloween, Fremont!

 

 

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©2013 Kirby Lindsay.  This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws.  Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.

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