Island activities to mark holiday, season
Upcoming community events will offer the islands the chance to celebrate fall and Halloween.
The Community House will hold its annual Fall Festival and Candy Carnival on Oct. 28 on Sanibel. Next up, Community Housing and Resources will present its first-ever Fall Fest on Oct. 29 on Sanibel. The Captiva Civic Association will host a Halloween Party & Potluck Social on Oct. 31 on Captiva.
FALL FESTIVAL AND CANDY CARNIVAL
The Fall Festival and Candy Carnival will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at TCH.
“I think it’s important that we give every opportunity to those islanders who want to gather and celebrate,” Executive Director Teresa Riska-Hall said, adding that it is one of her favorites.
“It’s very intergenerational,” she said. “We get families in costumes, kids in costumes, even seniors.”
Admission is free with a bag of wrapped candy per family.
“We typically have carnival games,” Riska-Hall said. “There will be about 10 or so.”
Some will include a ring toss, Frisbee throwing challenge and cornhole.
“There’s some simpler games for the smaller kids,” she said.
Winners of the games will receive goodies.
“Sometimes it’s candy,” Riska-Hall said. “Sometimes it’s trinkets as the prizes.”
Also, Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream has donated gift certificates.
There will be lots of Halloween candy, along with a photo booth and cookie decorating area.
One of the highlights of the event is the costume contest, which is open to all.
“We typically try to do different age groups and a family one,” she said. “Because families will come dressed as a theme.”
For $5 a plate, attendees can enjoy pizza or a burger with chips, plus water or soda.
“It’s a family-friendly meal,” Riska-Hall said.
Adult beverages will also be available for purchase.
Event sponsors are Pinocchio’s, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank and the Santiva Chronicle.
The community is welcome to come out for the holiday fun.
“Everyone’s welcome,” she said, explaining that one year an elderly woman came with her caretaker and wore a huge smile all night. “She was just so happy to be part of the community that night.”
For more information, contact 239-472-2155 or office@sanibelcommunityhouse.net.
In advance of the event, TCH is accepting bags of donated candy.
The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
FALL FEST
The Fall Fest will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the courtyard of CHR’s Woodhaven property.
“Every since the storm, we’ve been trying to do events with the staff and our residents,” Executive Administrative Assistant Savannah Miller-Berg said, explaining that many residents displaced by the storm are now returning home, so the events offer a chance to socialize and get to know each other.
“We thought that the Fall Fest would be a perfect opportunity for our residents to connect and to engage with the community,” she added.
F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva will donate 40-60 pumpkins for a pumpkin patch.
“We’re going to have residents and community members, especially children, go out in the pumpkin patch and they can choose their pumpkin,” Miller-Berg said.
Interested participants can decorate their pumpkins and take part in a contest.
“We have in-house prizes that we’re going to give out,” she said.
The CHR residents at Woodhaven have volunteered to hand out goodies for trick-or-treaters.
“They’re very excited about it,” Miller-Berg said. “Participants can knock on doors and get candy.”
“We’re going to have lots of candy,” she added.
There will be a variety of games for attendees to take part in, again with in-house prizes for winners. There will be pumpkin bowling, pin the tail on the pumpkin, and possibly a Halloween relay race.
“We’re going to do a costume contest if we have enough people participating,” Miller-Berg said.
The island Boy Scouts are going to help facilities the activities.
Sandwiches from Jerry’s Foods will be provided and The Shack of Sanibel is donating custard.
CHR will have additional snacks and refreshments available.
The public is invited to take part and to get to know the CHR community.
“For awhile, we’ve been behind the scenes, so being able to see what CHR is, see our properties and what we do,” she said. “And just really connecting with the community.”
For more information, contact 239-472-1189 or savannah@sanibelchr.org.
Woodhaven is at 800 Casa Ybel Road, Sanibel.
HALLOWEEN PARTY & POTLUCK SOCIAL
The Halloween Party & Potluck Social will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center.
Executive Director Emily Hess Ankerson explained that the CCA Board and Activities Committee suggested an event because more people than normal are back on-island as storm recovery continues.
“We thought it might be fun to do an early event that would bring people together,” she said.
Similar to a cocktail party, the event is geared toward adults.
“People are encouraged to bring a dish to share,” Ankerson said. “It can be anything that they like.”
“In the past, before COVID, the CCA had a long-time history of doing potluck socials instead of having them catered,” she added. “So this is kind of a nod toward what they used to do.”
A costume contest will take place, with goodies for winners.
“People are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes or Halloween-themed attire,” Ankerson said.
Bar refreshments and candy treats will be provided.
While the event is free and open to all, RSVPs are requested.
To RSVP, visit https://ccacaptiva.org/events-classes-meetings/ or call 239-472-2111.
The community is encouraged to do so and enjoy the holiday.
“It’s an opportunity for people to have a little fun, to get together and socialize,” she said. “And this event will be mostly outdoors, and we’re anticipating it will be a lovely evening.”
For more information, visit online, call or email info@ccacaptiva.org.
The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.
….
IF YOU GO
What
Fall Festival and Candy Carnival
When
Oct. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where
The Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
…..
IF YOU GO
What
Fall Fest
When
Oct. 29 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Where
Woodhaven, 800 Casa Ybel Road, Sanibel
…..
IF YOU GO
What
Halloween Party & Potluck Social
When
Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where
Captiva Civic Center, 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email