Thousands of trick-or-treating children will fill Stancil Exposition Center on Halloween Night, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., for the 11th Annual Treat Street, an event hosted each year by the Unity Committee and the City of Cleveland with the support of area businesses, schools, churches, civic groups and non-profits.
Since its inception, Treat Street has become the most-attended annual event in Cleveland, prompting organizers to move the event from its roots in downtown Cleveland to Stancil Exposition Center in order to accommodate the high number of participants.
The event is open to trick-or-treaters through age 12. Parents who are not accompanied by a child cannot collect treats.
Last year, following heavy rains that postponed the event from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, Treat Street was moved inside the covered arena at Stancil Exposition Center. This year, in order to increase the flow of people as they move from booth to booth, organizers plan to host Treat Street in the parking lot of Stancil Exposition Center.
Parking will be available at the Cleveland Civic Center, Cleveland Senior Citizens Center and the Stancil Exposition Center’s parking lot off Easy Street.
Once again, Treat Street will include contests for booth decorating, costumes and dancing. Vendors hosting booths are encouraged to decorate their space using family-friendly decorations. The top three booths will be recognized in Bluebonnet News and on the night of the event.
The costume contest will be divided into age groups: 0-3, 4-7 and 8-12. First, second and third place winners will be picked by a group of independent judges in each age group. Prizes will be handed out to all the top three winners in each age group. These winners will also be recognized in Bluebonnet News.
The dance competition will be set to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Children can do their best to perform the now-iconic dance moves seen in Thriller or show off their freestyle dance moves. The top dancer will receive a $50 Visa gift card.
There is no fee to rent a booth space. The only expenses will be decorations for the booth, and candy – lots of candy! Vendors are asked to bring enough pieces of candy for each child to receive at least one piece per booth. By the time a child makes their way through the booths, they should have enough treats to fill their candy bucket or bag.
If you are interested in hosting a booth, send an email to Cleveland Civic Center’s Administrative Coordinator Marina Ybanez, mybanez@clevelandtexas.com or Bluebonnet News Editor Vanesa Brashier at editor@bluebonnetnews.com.
The Unity Committee of Cleveland, which also hosts Bunny Blast, Hometown Christmas, Fourth of July fireworks shows and other family-friendly annual events, is always seeking community participation. The Committee is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to promoting “Unity in Community.”