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OK to play in the street

Staff photo by John Ceballos

More than 6,000 people — including 3,000 costume kids — attended this year's event. Trick or Treat Street provides families with a safe environment to take their kids trick or treating.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Iron Man and Batman rubbed elbows with Dracula and Frankenstein at a recent family-friendly event.

More than 6,000 people, including an estimated 3,000 costumed kids, celebrated Halloween a week early during Trick or Treat Street.

"We are very excited about the turnout this year," said Tanya Doran, executive director of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce. "I'm actually speechless."

The annual event, organized by the chamber, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Riverview High School, which doubled as host, provides families with a safe trick-or-treating environment.

This year's edition took place between 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 and drew a record number of visitors, Doran said.

"This event is very convenient for me," said Kristen Woughter of Brandon, who brought her two kids. "My kids won't go out on Halloween."

A line of eager trick-or-treaters waiting to get in snaked around the high school's parking lot for most of the evening.

Once inside, children went from one of 40 area businesses and organizations to another and collected candy. Each vendor had a Halloween-themed station, and most wore costumes.

"It's just great for kids," said Linda Johnson, who handed out candy at the Mosaic station. "I'm guessing a lot of them are going to get twice the amount of candy because they'll go trick-or-treating next week too."

Ribbons were awarded for booth design and decoration in several categories. Sweet Bay Supermarkets came in first overall; Riverview's Christ The King Lutheran Church received the best artwork award for their Hall of Justice themed booth and came in second for overall; Riverview United Methodist Church received most original with a hippie theme and placed third overall; Discovery Point Child Care Center received the award for best use of material; Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was awarded most creative; and Hess Orthodontics won the scariest booth award.

Admission was free to the event, which also featured periodic costume contests for children of all ages.

Riverview High student volunteers hosted a variety of carnival-style games and sold baked goods, raising more than $1,900 for the school's clubs.

"It was a lot of hard work, but I'm really happy, and really impressed with the way everyone - the vendors, the organizers and the community - came together," Doran said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 627-4762.

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