City of Antioch Recreation Department Hosts Family Trunk or Treat Festival and Autumn Safety Showcase

Families and volunteers from across eastern Contra Costa County gathered at the Antioch Community Center and Prewett Family Park corridor on Saturday, October 17, for the City of Antioch Recreation Department's annual Trunk or Treat festival and safety showcase. Running from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM along the Lone Tree Way plaza, the free admission gathering transformed the parking promenade into a pedestrian celebration featuring forty decorated vehicles, youth craft stations, and harvest games. Recreation supervisors and municipal staff welcomed over two thousand costumed children and parents during the opening hour.

Public works crews, fire rescue personnel, and municipal police officers staged an interactive fleet display alongside the trick-or-treat lanes, allowing young residents to explore decorated emergency response trucks in a welcoming daytime environment. Event organizers distributed reflective trick-or-treat bags, clip-on LED safety lights, and pedestrian visibility guides to help families prepare for safe walking on Halloween evening. Local high school leadership students and service clubs operated carnival booths, pumpkin decorating tables, and a youth costume parade stage near the amphitheater lawn.

Parents, youth mentors, and neighborhood watch coordinators from Antioch, Brentwood, and Pittsburg praised the municipal festival for providing a secure venue where families can connect directly with city staff and local nonprofits. Small business sponsors along Lone Tree Way and Deer Valley Road donated thousands of sealed allergy-friendly treats, stickers, and storybooks to ensure every child could participate regardless of dietary restrictions. Community advocates noted that free weekend recreation programs strengthen neighborhood cohesion while introducing residents to year-round youth sports and enrichment classes.

The Antioch Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council allocated $18,000 in municipal youth program funding this autumn to expand free seasonal events and upgrade lighting along park pathways. Department officials partnered with Contra Costa County Health Services and regional transit agencies to host booths offering winter flu clinic schedules, library cards, and student bus passes. Official municipal traffic plans routed vehicle arrivals through the Prewett Park main entrance to keep interior walkways separated from traffic.

East County residents can view autumn and winter youth recreation schedules, register for holiday workshops, and download Halloween safety checklists online at antiochca.gov or by calling the Antioch Community Center at (925) 779-7070. Registration for winter youth basketball leagues and art camps opens on Monday, October 19, at the Lone Tree Way service desk. Inquiries regarding booth sponsorship for December holiday festivals may be directed to the special events coordinator.