A crowd of kids and adults made the most of the evening.
The City of Plant City put on Monster Mash at the Plant City Stadium on October 24. Starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m., the bash offered games for kids and adults, a trunk or treat including one that was Bluey-themed, and 13 vendors offering a mix of options from classic burgers and loaded hot dogs to mini pancakes, tacos, and even handmade candles. A local animal sanctuary brought goats in costumes for the petting zoo.
“The Parks and Recreation Department is always providing programs to reach our youth and provide safe events for them to enjoy,” Assistant City Manager Jack Holland commented. “My hope for such programs is to continue developing positive relationships between our community and its residents while reinforcing our small-town charm. The outstanding response from our local businesses and civic organizations is a prime example of their support of our area youth.”
In terms of scare zones, Parks and Rec set up Parkview Institution for ages 13 and above. The haunted asylum was full of the history of patients—both living and deceased. Tiny Terror Alley served as a less intense experience for kids 12 and under. Several other city departments and volunteers joined together and put in countless hours to make Monster Mash a great experience for the community.
“Last year during Monster Mash, unfortunately, the hurricane put a damper on things,” Chief of Police Richard Mills said. “It was a decent turnout, but nothing like it is now. This makes me feel good to see everybody out here back in action together. We collaborate all the time with the Fire Department. We are right beside them once again. This is community engagement at its best. We get the chance to come out here, and the kids get to see us in a different light. We give them candy, and have good conversations, and have a good time. That is what it is about. They don’t always see law enforcement in this light, where they can approach us and have a good time with us. We get to give them candy, and we get to have that fun interaction. A lot of times, the only time they see us is when mom and dad are getting pulled over, and they are in the back of the car, or unfortunately, a family member needs law enforcement assistance, or a family member is getting arrested, or something like that. So this allows us to turn the tables, where they can approach us, have fun with us, and we can interact.
More than 4,000 people turned out, and a good time was had by all.
